Equipment
Telescope
Planewave CDK700
Camera
Moravian Instruments C5A-100M
Mount
Planewave 700 Series Gimbal
Filters
Chroma Blue 2″
Chroma Green 2″
Chroma H-alpha 3nm Bandpass 50 mm
Chroma Lum 50 mm
Chroma Red 2″
Software
Adobe Photoshop
Pleiades Astrophoto PixInsight
Objects
Sculptor Filament
Sculptor Galaxy
Silver Coin
NGC 253
Description
NGC 253, also known as the Sculptor Galaxy or the Silver Coin Galaxy, is a prominent spiral galaxy located in the constellation Sculptor. It is a starburst galaxy, meaning it’s undergoing a period of intense star formation. It is also one of the brightest spiral galaxies that we can observe. The galaxy’s dust content gives it a dusty, “silver coin” appearance when viewed through smaller telescopes. One supernova, SN 1940E, has been observed within NGC 253.
Mathematician and astronomer Caroline Herschel discovered NGC 253 in 1783.
Given the relative proximity to us in cosmic terms a number of H alpha regions showing some structure are easily discernible. NGC 253 is also a source of high-energy X-rays and gamma rays, likely due to massive black holes near its center.
This is a popular target and a beautiful one! I enjoyed processing this awesome galaxy! Ha was added using Continuum Subtraction.
Thank you to Mike Selby at throughlightandtime.com for acquiring and sharing this wonderful data set!