The Silver Dollar Galaxy, H.V.1 (NGC 253)

Way down south in the constellation Sculptor is a large, bright and conspicuous galaxy that is visible in the finder. It is officially called the "Silver Dollar"; by me it is called the "Prune Galaxy" because of its wrinkled appearance and color in photographs. Located in an isoscles triangle of stars, it crosses the field at 70 power. It looks like an elongated slash, with a couple of stars superimposed and a brighter nucleus. Unfortunately, it never rises very high from New York.

NGC: 253
OTHER NAMES: Silver Dollar Galaxy, Prune Galaxy, H.V.1
CLASS: spiral galaxy
SIZE: 22' x 6'
MAGNITUDE: +7
POSITION: 00h 45m -25d 34'
CONSTELLATION: Sculptor
DATE OF SKETCH: 09/28/76
MAGNIFICATION USED: 40x,70x