The Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253)

The Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253) - NGC 253 is one of the brightest & dustiest spiral galaxy's that is visible. lt lies only about ten million light-years distant in the constellation of Sculptor. lt is the largest member of the Sculptor Group of Galaxies, the nearest group to our own Local Group of Galaxies. The dense dark dust accompanies a high star formation rate, giving NGC 253 the designation of starburst galaxy. Visible in this image is the active central nucleus, also known to be a bright source of X-rays and gamma rays. — at lmage Credit: Angus Lau/NASA.