Sculptor Dwarf

Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy Sculptor Dwarf (E351-G30, PCG 3589, A0058), type dE3 pec, in Sculptor

RA:: 01 : 00.0
Dec:: -33 : 42
Type:: dE3 pec
RV:: +162 km/s
Distance:
Apparent Dimension:
Diameter:
Brightness:: 10.5 m_p
Abs. Mag:
Mass:

The Sculptor Dwarf was the first dwarf spheroidal galaxy to be discovered, in 1937 by Harlow Shapley, on photographic plates made with the Harvard 24-inch survey telescope at Boyden Observatory, South Africa (Shapley 1938, Baade and Hubble 1939). This type of galaxies differs from dwarf ellipticals by an even lower surface brightness.

Our image was obtained by the Anglo Australian Observatory; it is copyrighted and may be used privately only; ask their Photo Permissions Department (photo at aaoepp.aao.gov.au) for any other kind of use.

The Sculptor Dwarf is Rich Jakiel's Ultimate Challenge No. 2 for advanced deepsky observers. This faint galaxy has been visually observed by advanced amateur astronomers under very good viewing conditions with instruments starting at 6-inch (15 cm) and low power (30x and less).

References

Baade and Hubble, 1939. The New Stellar Systems in Sculptor and Fornax. PASP, Vol. 51, p. 40-44
Shapley, 1938. Harvard Bull. No. 908
Harlow Shapley, 1938. Two Stellar Systems of a New Kind. Nature, Vol. 142, p. 715

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Hartmut Frommert
Christine Kronberg
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Last Modification: March 14, 1998