|NGC 253 is not only one of the brightest spiral galaxies
visible, it is also one of the Discovered in 1783 by Caroline
Herschel in the constellation of Sculptor, NGC 253 lies only
about ten million light-years distant. NGC 253 is the largest
member of the Sculptor Group of Galaxies, the nearest group to
our own Local Group of Galaxies. The dense dark accompanies a
high star formation rate, giving NGC 253 the designation of
Visible in the above photograph is the active central nucleus,
also known to be a bright source of X-rays and gamma rays.
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