NGC 253, Sculptor Galaxy

NGC 253 is an intermediate spiral galaxy in the constellation of Sculptor. It is also known as the Silver Coin Galaxy, Caldwell 65, but most commonly as the Sculptor Galaxy.
Discovered in 1783 by Caroline Herschel, this dusty island universe lies a mere 11.4 million light-years away. It is the largest member of the Sculptor Group of Galaxies, the nearest to our own Local Group of Galaxies, and is one of the brightest Galaxies in the night sky.
In addition to its spiral dust lanes tendrils of dust seem to rising from a galactic disc laced with young star clusters and star forming regions. The high dust content accompanies frantic star formation, earning NGC 253 the designation of a starburst galaxy. The galaxy is also known to be a strong source of high energy x-rays and gamma rays, likely due to massive black holes near the galaxy’s centre.