Sculptor Galaxy

The Sculptor Galaxy, also known as NGC 253, is a bright spiral galaxy in the constellation Sculptor. Its unusually vigorous star formation drives powerful outflows from its central region.

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Starburst galaxy: A galaxy forming stars at a rate far above the typical rate for galaxies of comparable mass. NGC 253 is a nearby example, with concentrated star formation in its nucleus.
NGC 253 starburst: The concentrated episode of rapid star formation in the central region of NGC 253. This nuclear activity defines the galaxy's unusually intense production of young stars.
Sculptor constellation: A faint constellation in the southern sky, established by Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille in the eighteenth century. NGC 253 lies in this constellation, which gives the galaxy its common name.
Milky Way: The barred spiral galaxy that contains the Solar System. Compared with the Milky Way, NGC 253 forms stars much more intensely in its center.
Galactic wind: A large-scale outflow of gas from a galaxy, driven by stellar activity or an active galactic nucleus. Supernovae and young stars in NGC 253 propel gas out of its central starburst.
NGC 253 superwind: The large-scale flow of hot gas and dust extending out of NGC 253's central starburst. It is the galaxy's clearest example of star formation reshaping material beyond the disk.
NGC 253 Group: A nearby association of galaxies centered on NGC 253 and the neighboring galaxy NGC 247. The group supplies the local environment in which NGC 253 evolves.
M82: A nearby starburst galaxy in the constellation Ursa Major, also called the Cigar Galaxy. M82 is another close starburst whose vigorous outflow can be compared with NGC 253's.
Supernova: A stellar explosion that releases enormous energy and disperses material into its surroundings. Supernovae help heat and accelerate the gas flowing from NGC 253's core.
Chandra X-ray Observatory: A space telescope that observes high-energy X-rays from astronomical sources. Its X-ray observations reveal hot gas rising from NGC 253's star-forming center.