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NGC 253 from the ANGST Survey
A close-up view from Hubble shows that NGC 253 is ablaze with the light from thousands of young, blue stars. The spiral galaxy is undergoing intense star formation. This image, taken with Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys, reveals colors and differing intensities of individual stars as well dark filaments of dust and gas interstellar dust intersperced among the stars. NGC 253 is the dominant galaxy in the Sculptor Group of galaxies and resides about 13 million light-years from Earth.
This galaxy is part of a detailed survey called the ACS Nearby Galaxy Survey Treasury program (ANGST). The natural-color images were constructed using Hubble observations taken in infrared, visible, and blue light. Data from the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile were used to fill in small gaps in the Hubble image of NGC 253.
About the Object
- R.A. PositionR.A. PositionRight ascension – analogous to longitude – is one component of an object's position.00h 47m 33.11s
- Dec. PositionDec. PositionDeclination – analogous to latitude – is one component of an object's position.-25° 17' 17.58"
- ConstellationConstellationOne of 88 recognized regions of the celestial sphere in which the object appears.Sculptor
- DistanceDistanceThe physical distance from Earth to the astronomical object. Distances within our solar system are usually measured in Astronomical Units (AU). Distances between stars are usually measured in light-years. Interstellar distances can also be measured in parsecs.13 million light-years
About the Data
- InstrumentInstrumentThe science instrument used to produce the data.HST>ACS and CTIO
- Object NameObject NameA name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.NGC 253
- Object DescriptionObject DescriptionThe type of astronomical object.Spiral Galaxy in the Local Volume
- Release DateSeptember 30, 2008
- Science ReleaseWhen It Comes to Galaxies, Diversity Is Everywhere
- Credits
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Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov
