The Sculptor galaxy, also known as NGC 253, is similar to our Milky Way in size, mass, and spiral structure. Unlike the Milky Way, it offers a perfect view from Earth, allowing astronomers to capture an ultra-detailed image using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Chile.

The image reveals Sculptor in around 4,000 different colors, providing unprecedented detail on star formation, interstellar gas motion, and other galactic components. This level of information surpasses conventional astronomy images that offer only a handful of colors.

Researchers used the telescope's Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) instrument for 50 hours of observations to create this remarkable image. NGC 253, located about 11 million light-years away, acts as a bridge between the detailed studies of the Milky Way and large-scale studies of more distant galaxies.

With a diameter of 88,000 light-years, Sculptor is a barred spiral galaxy like the Milky Way. It exhibits a rate of new star formation two to three times greater than our galaxy, with nearly 30% of this activity concentrated near its nucleus in a starburst region.

The image also provides insights into the motion, age, and chemical composition of stars, as well as the movement of interstellar gas within Sculptor. Astronomers are particularly excited about the data on planetary nebulae, luminous clouds of gas and dust that can help measure distances to faraway galaxies.

Overall, this new view of the Sculptor galaxy offers both scientific value and aesthetic beauty, revealing intricate details that hint at the incredible physics behind the galactic dynamics.

Source: The Straits Times