NGC 253

The Silver Coin

NGC 253
NGC 253

The “Sculptor Galaxy” (or slightly less familiar – “Silver Coin” galaxy) is one of the most bright and striking galaxies, coming second only after objects like M31, M33, M81. It’s a close, large (almost as large as the Moon), and almost edge-on spiral galaxy. In the eyepiece – the “Sculptor” has a long elliptical shape, and slightly assymetrical. Several darker and brighter filaments are clearly visible around the brighter central part, even in moderate instruments.

Object Name : NGC 253 – the Sculptor Galaxy .
Object Type : Spiral galaxy.
Location: Negev desert, Israel, ~6.7 mag. sky.
Date: 5-6/08/2011 ; 03:30.
Instrument: 200mm F/5 Orion (US) Newtonian, 13mm Vixen LVW eyepiece.
Media Graphite pencil sketch on a white paper. Inverted and processed in Photoshop.

4 thoughts on “The Silver Coin”

  1. Beautiful Michael, great detail for an 8″ as a result of superb skies.
    I struggle with this from 52 deg north so thanks for sharing.

    Dale UK

  2. Michael,

    Wonderful sketch of this nearly edge on galaxy.
    I like the detail in this dusty galaxy sketch.

    Frank

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