[LVAS] October Observer's Challenge

[Rob]

Fred,

Here's my input for this month's challenge.


The Sculptor Galaxy is my favorite galaxy. I was completely enthralled 
the first time I observed it. Unfortunately, that was before I started 
keeping notes. This galaxy has more detail in its structure than you 
will see in most galaxies. The first time I observed the Sculptor Galaxy 
was last winter in Rio Rancho, NM. It was extremely cold that night down 
there in New Mexico, but I must have gazed at this treasure for at least 
20 minutes. I could just imagine the churning gas and dust within its 
spiral arms. This first image (Nov 2008) was taken that night almost a 
year ago when the sky was so dark and steady on the outskirts of 
Albuquerque that I was able to capture this image with only a 14-second 
integration. It is a single frame image with no post processing of any 
kind.  The second image (also a 14-second exposure), captured recently 
with the Orion ST120, provides the perspective that probably gives the 
Sculptor Galaxy its other nickname, the Silver Coin Galaxy. As you look 
at the smaller image of the galaxy, you can almost imagine a coin being 
suspended in space.  I tried to capture a 56-second image while at Death 
Valley to show more detail in the galaxy's center, but the transparency 
wasn't very good for that much magnification.  (See the 56-second 
exposure image.)

There are obvious dark globs and streams of dust throughout entire 
length of the galaxy. Its core and nuclear bulge are tighter, more 
distinct, and less washed out than that of most galaxies. When I seen IR 
or X-ray images of the Milky Way's center, I imagine it looking 
something like NGC 253. The dust lanes on the north side remind me of 
the dust lanes visible in the much larger Andromeda Galaxy, as they 
spiral in toward the galaxy's center. As I looked to define the galaxy's 
spiral structure, I saw two large spiral arms that appear to originate 
at opposite ends of a short bar stretching across the galaxy's center. 
If I've oriented my images correctly, the spiral arms give the galaxy 
the appearance of a clockwise rotation.  What I would give to look 
directly down upon this galaxy and observe its full spiral structure. 
The brighter foreground stars that are superimposed on the galaxy appear 
to be riding the spiral waves as the galaxy revolves around its center. 
There are a number of areas of apparent star formation, but between the 
core and the bright star on the northeast periphery there is what seems 
to be an unusually bright area of star formation.  According to 
published documentation, NGC 253 is a starburst galaxy similar to M82. 

I look forward to years of observing this galaxy and trying to see 
something new each time.  NGC 253 will long be a fall and winter 
favorite of mine.


Rob





Fred Rayworth wrote:
> All,
>  
> Well, since the moon is now getting in the way and the weather has 
> gone south, it's time to submit your entries for the observer's 
> challenge, NGC-253. I have some stuff already, but I am looking 
> forward to your photos, drawings, and/or notes.
>  
> I, for one, had a dynamite time observing this galaxy. It has always 
> been a favorite. I hope you all had some luck with it too.
>  
> Fred
>  
>
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