Sculptor Galaxy / Silver Coin Galaxy
Galaxy

Sculptor Galaxy / Silver Coin Galaxy

NGC 253 · Sculptor
These photons are ~11.4 million years old
UV/IR
Date
2025-09-22
Location
36.3859° N, 28.0412° E
Integration
29m (87 × 20s)
Software
ZWO Seestar app
Notes
—
Plate solve
Centre RA
0h 47m 37.9s
Centre Dec
−25° 19′ 52″
Field
42.7′ × 75.9′
Pixel scale
2.37″/px
Orientation
33.7° E of N
TelescopeZWO Seestar S50
CameraZWO Seestar S50 Camera
RigFamily Holiday Rig
Captured from · Ελλάς
36.3859° N, 28.0412° E · open map ↗

Where to find it

Interactive sky chart centred on 0 47 37.9 -25 19 52, with constellation stick figures overlaid. Locate shows the whole constellation with the target ringed; Field zooms to the close-up. Drag to pan, scroll to zoom, click any star to identify it. Imagery: DSS colour survey via CDS Aladin Lite. Constellation figures © Dominic Ford (GPLv3).

The second-brightest galaxy in the sky after the Milky Way’s satellite clouds, a spectacular starburst spiral seen at a low inclination. Dust lanes, bright star-forming knots, and an active nucleus are all visible at modest focal lengths; barely accessible from the UK but worth the effort near its autumn culmination.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of object is NGC 253?
NGC 253 is a galaxy.
Which constellation is NGC 253 in?
NGC 253 lies in the constellation Sculptor.
How far away is NGC 253?
The light in this image left NGC 253 roughly ~11.4 million years ago, so that is how far back in time you are seeing it.
What are the coordinates of NGC 253?
NGC 253 sits at right ascension 00h 47m 38s and declination −25° 19′ 52″ (J2000).
When is the best time to photograph NGC 253?
NGC 253 rides highest in the evening sky around October, reaching about 11° above the horizon from around 54°N.
What equipment was used to photograph NGC 253?
This image of NGC 253 was captured with ZWO Seestar S50 and ZWO Seestar S50 Camera.
How much exposure time went into this image?
This image of NGC 253 represents 29m (87 × 20s) of total integration time.