Sculptor Group

Sculptor group
The Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253), as seen at near-infrared wavelengths. Credit: 2MASS.
Observation data (Epoch J2000)
Constellation(s)Sculptor/Cetus
Right ascension00h 48m [1]
Declination−25° 17′[1]
Brightest memberSculptor Galaxy (NGC 253)[2][3][4]
Number of galaxies13[2][3]
Other designations
NGC 253 Group, LGG 4, Sculptor Filament,[3]
South Polar Group, South Galactic Pole Group[4]

The Sculptor Group is a loose group of galaxies[2][3] visible near the south galactic pole.[1] The group is one of the closest groups of galaxies to the Local Group; the distance to the center of the group from the Milky Way is approximately 3.9 Mpc (12.7 Mly).[3]

The Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253) and a few other galaxies form a gravitationally-bound core in the center of this group. A few other galaxies at the periphery may be associated with the group but may not be gravitationally bound. Because most of the galaxies in this group are actually weakly gravitationally bound, the group may also be described as a filament.[2][3] It is considered to be at an early stage of evolution in which galaxies are still falling into the group along filamentary structures.[5]

  1. ^ a b c "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database". Results for NGC 253, identified as the core of the Sculptor Group. Retrieved 2006-11-25.
  2. ^ a b c d I. D. Karachentsev; E. K. Grebel; M. E. Sharina; A. E. Dolphin; D. Geisler; P. Guhathakrta; P. W. Hodge; V. E. Karachentseva; A. Sarajedini; P. Seitzer (2003). "Distances to nearby galaxies in Sculptor". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 404 (1): 93–111. arXiv:astro-ph/0302045. Bibcode:2003A&A...404...93K. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20030170.
  3. ^ a b c d e f I. D. Karachentsev (2005). "The Local Group and Other Neighboring Galaxy Groups". Astronomical Journal. 129 (1): 178–188. arXiv:astro-ph/0410065. Bibcode:2005AJ....129..178K. doi:10.1086/426368.
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Burnhams was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Lianou, S.; et al. (February 2013), "Population gradients and photometric metallicities in early- and transition-type dwarf galaxies: Clues from the Sculptor group", Astronomy & Astrophysics, 550: A7, arXiv:1211.3170, Bibcode:2013A&A...550A...7L, doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201219959.