NGC 253 (Sculptor Galaxy) and the globular cluster NGC 288

NGC 253 (also known as the Silver Dollar Galaxy, Silver Coin or Sculptor Galaxy, or Caldwell 65) is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Sculptor. It is currently undergoing a period of intense star formation. The galaxy was discovered by Caroline Herschel in 1783. It is described by Allan Sandage in 1961 as "the prototype example of a special subgroup of Sc systems". The Sculptor Galaxy is located at the center of the Sculptor Group, one of the nearest groups of galaxies to the Milky Way. The estimated distance of NGC 253 is about 11.4 Mly (3.5 Mpc). About 1.8° southeast of the galaxy NGC 253 is located the globular cluster NGC 288 (top left on this image). It is not very concentrated and has a well resolved, 3' large dense core that is surrounded by a much more diffuse and irregular 9' diameter ring. Peripheral members extend farther outward towards the south and especially southwest. This cluster lies only 37′ north-northeast of the South Galactic Pole.

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