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5h ago

Astronomers Unveil Thousand-Color Map of Sculptor Galaxy

A 65,000-light-year-wide mosaic drawn from 50 hours of VLT exposures unveils 500 planetary nebulae, deepening our understanding of star-forming regions.

© ESO/E. Congiu et al.

Overview

  • ESO released on June 18, 2025, a 1,000-color image of the Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253), a starburst spiral located about 11 million light-years away.
  • The composite was assembled from over 100 exposures taken during 50 hours of observation with the VLT’s Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer.
  • The 65,000-light-year-wide mosaic distinguishes thousands of spectral colors to map the age, composition and motion of stars, gas and dust.
  • Initial analysis uncovered around 500 planetary nebulae, which astronomers used to verify the galaxy’s distance and refine its structural models.
  • Researchers highlight the Sculptor Galaxy as a “sweet spot” for study, offering both detailed internal resolution and a comprehensive galactic view.