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Sculptor Pinwheel Galaxy (NGC 300)
spiral galaxy in Sculptor
NGC 300 is a nearby, face-on spiral galaxy in Sculptor, a member of the Sculptor Group. It has low surface brightness, so it is faint despite its size, but its arms show many blue star-forming knots in a long exposure.
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// Key facts
- Catalog
- NGC 300
- Type
- spiral galaxy
- Constellation
- Sculptor
- Size
- 20′ across
- Brightness
- Magnitude 8.1
- Distance
- about 6.5 million light-years
- Peak month (any location)
- Oct
- Typical prime months
- Jul to Dec
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Filter
- No filter (broadband); a light-pollution filter is optional
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How to image Sculptor Pinwheel Galaxy
- It is south (dec -37), so it is low from northern sites.
- At 20 arcminutes, use 800 to 1,200 mm.
- A dark sky and a long total exposure matter most for low surface brightness galaxies.
Framing: what focal length?
The focal length at which NGC 300 spans about 60% of the long side of the sensor, leaving room around it. Treat it as a starting point; the right framing is a matter of taste.
| Sensor | Focal length |
|---|---|
| 1-inch sensor (13.2 mm) | about 1360 mm |
| APS-C (23.5 mm) | about 2420 mm |
| Full frame (36 mm) | about 3710 mm |
How high does it climb from your latitude?
The highest point NGC 300 reaches in the sky. Above about 60° is excellent, 30° to 60° is workable, and under 30° you are looking through a lot of air.
| Latitude | Highest point | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 55°N (Scotland, Alaska) | below horizon | Never rises |
| 45°N (Minneapolis, Milan) | 7° | Stays low |
| 35°N (Los Angeles, Tokyo) | 17° | Stays low |
| 25°N (Miami, Cairo) | 27° | Stays low |
| 35°S (Sydney, Santiago) | 87° | High in the sky |
Also worth imaging
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