Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253) - Sketch

Sculptor galaxy sketch - ngc 253

Location and conditions: Negev desert (Borot Lutz), Israel, ~6.7 mag. sky.
Date and time: 5-6/08/2011 ; 03:30
Instrument: Orion skyview pro 8" F/5 Newtonian. 13mm Vixen LVW. 77X
Drawing details:Graphite pencil sketch on a white paper, made while observing with a telescope under red light. Processed in Photoshop. Observation by Michael Vlasov.

Object details: Spiral galaxy ; size: 24' ;  magnitude: 8 ; 
constellation: Sculptor ; distance: 11.5 Mly.  

Notes:

The "Sculptor Galaxy" (or "Silver Coin" galaxy) is a close, large, relatively bright, and almost edge-on spiral galaxy. It has angular size almost the same as the Moon.

The galaxy has a long elliptical shape, slightly assymetrical (relatively to the core). Several darker and brighter parts and filaments are visible around the brighter central part. Galaxy's edges are slightly washed out.

Original drawing:

Sculptor galaxy sketch - ngc 253 - pencil