NGC 253, the Sculptor Galaxy, is a spectacular starburst galaxy located 11 to 13 million light-years away in the constellation of Sculptor.

This edge-on spiral galaxy is choked with dust, and is called a "starburst" galaxy because of the extremely high rate of star formation taking place in its core. It is the nearest starburst galaxy to our own Milky Way Galaxy.

NGC 253 is sometimes also known as the Silver Dollar, or Silver Coin, Galaxy and is one of the brightest galaxies visible from Earth. Its apparent size in the sky is nearly as large as the full moon.

The galaxy was discovered by Caroline Herschel in 1783.

Like the Milky Way, NGC 253 is believed to hold a supermassive black hole at its center.

North is to the top in the above image.

NGC 253 Catalogs: NGC 253, PGC 2789, ESO 474-29 Common Name: Silver Coin, Sculptor Filament Object Type: SBc Spiral Galaxy Magnitude: 7.3v Size: 29' x 6.8' Constellation: Sculptor Image Field Centered At: RA: 00h 47m 33s Dec: -25° 16' 48"