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c65-1
Hubble · Caldwell 65 · NASA, ESA, J. Dalcanton and B. Williams (University of Washington), T.A. Rector/University of Alaska Anchorage, T. Abbott, and NOAO/AURA/NSF

Sculptor Galaxy

Galaxy in Sculptor · 11.4 million light-years

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TypeGalaxy
ConstellationSculptor
Right ascension0h 47m 33s
Declination−25° 17′
Object distance11.4 million light-years
Apparent magnitude11.1
Apparent size26.8′ (arc-minutes)
Approx. true diameter88,872 light-years across
Also known asC65 · NGC 253 · Sculptor Filament · Silver Coin
Caldwell 65, popularly known as the Sculptor Galaxy, is a galaxy (NGC 253) in the constellation Sculptor — a distant island of stars far beyond the Milky Way. It appears as number 65 in the Caldwell catalogue, Sir Patrick Moore's 1995 list of 109 bright deep-sky objects for amateur astronomers. It spans roughly 26.8 arc-minutes on the sky. At about magnitude 11.1, it is a fainter object best hunted with a moderate telescope under dark skies.

Although it appears about 26.8′ wide on the sky, its real span is roughly 88,872 light-years — the difference is a measure of how far away it lies.

Observing Sculptor Galaxy

Sculptor Galaxy lies in the constellation Sculptor and is best placed in the evening sky around October. Its maximum altitude above the horizon depends on your latitude. It is best placed for observers in the southern hemisphere, and sits low for those far north. It is faint — plan for a moderate telescope and a dark, moonless sky. Note that the listed magnitude is spread across the whole object — diffuse galaxies and nebulae are often harder to see than the number alone suggests, so dark, moonless skies help a great deal.

See Sculptor Galaxy in Universe Finder

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