NGC 253

Combination of 5, 2 minute exposures, SBIG ST-8E CCD.
8" f/6.3 schmidt-cassegrain telescope at prime focus.

NGC 253 is one of the best galaxies in the sky for small telescopes, especially for southern hemisphere observers where it appears high in the sky. It is situated in Sculptor about 4 degrees south of the bright star Diphda. and it is the brightest member of the Sculptor group of galaxies. It is easily visible in binoculars and has been observered with the naked eye under very dark skies. In an 8" telescope, it appears as a very elongated patch of light. Low magnification is required to fit all of the galaxy in the one field of view as it is quite large. In a 12" telescope some mottling of the galaxy can be discerned.

Combination of 6, 5 minute exposures, SBIG ST-9E CCD.
14" f/6.3 schmidt-cassegrain telescope at prime focus.

Combination of 20, 1 minute exposures, SBIG ST9XE CCD camera.
300mm f/6 newtonian telescope at prime focus.

Combination of 15, 3 minute images unfiltered and 10, 3 minute exposures using red, green and blue filters.
SBIG STL-1001E CCD. 300mm f/6 newtonian telescope at prime focus.

Combination of 10, 3 minute images each with red, green and blue filters. SBIG STL-1001E CCD.
20" f/6.8 cassegrain at prime focus.

Combination of the above image and 10, 3 minute images unfiltered. SBIG STL-1001E CCD.
20" f/6.8 cassegrain at prime focus.