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 ascension	00^h 48^m[1]
Declination	−25° 17′[1]
Brightest member	Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253)[2][3][4]
Number of galaxies	13[2][3]
Other designations
NGC 253 Group, LGG 4, Sculptor Filament,[3] South Polar Group, South Galactic Pole Group[4]
See also: Galaxy groups, Galaxy clusters, List of galaxy clusters

The Sculptor Group is a loose group of galaxies^[2][3] 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]

Members

The table below lists galaxies that have been identified as associated with the Sculptor Galaxy (and hence associated with the group) by I. D. Karachentsev and collaborators.^[2][3]

Members of the Sculptor Group

Name	Type[5]	R.A. (J2000)[5]	Dec. (J2000)[5]	Redshift (km/s)[5]	Apparent Magnitude[5]
IC 1574	IM(s)m	00^h 43^m 03.8^s	−22° 14′ 49″	363 ± 4	15.1
NGC 59	SA(rs)0	00^h 15^m 25.1^s	−21° 26′ 39.8″	362 ± 10	13.1
NGC 247	SAB(s)d	00^h 47^m 08.5^s	−20° 45′ 37″	156 ± 2	9.9
NGC 625	SB(s)m	01^h 35^m 04.6^s	−41° 26′ 10″	396 ± 1	11.7
NGC 7793	SA(s)d	23^h 57^m 49.8^s	−32° 35′ 28″	227 ± 2	10.0
PGC 2881	IABm	00^h 49^m 20.9^s	−18° 04′ 32″		16.5
PGC 2933	IAB(s)m pec	00^h 50^m 24.3^s	−19° 54′ 24″		16.6
PGC 6430	IB(s)m	01^h 45^m 03.7^s	−43° 35′ 53″	391 ± 2	12.7
Sculptor-dE1	dE	00^h 23^m 51.7^s	−24° 42′ 18″		16.9
Sculptor Dwarf Irregular Galaxy (PGC 621)	IBm	00^h 08^m 13.4^s	−34° 34′ 42″	221 ± 6	15.5
Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253)	SAB(s)c	00^h 47^m 33.1^s	−25° 17′ 18″	243 ± 2	8.0
UGCA 15	IB(s)m	00^h 49^m 49.2^s	−21° 00′ 54″	295 ± 0	15.2
UGCA 442	SB(s)m	23^h 43^m 45.5^s	−31° 57′ 24″	267 ± 2	13.6

Note that the object names used in the above table differ from the names used by Karachentsev and collaborators. NGC, IC, UGC, and PGC numbers have been used when possible to allow for easier referencing.

Foreground galaxies

The irregular galaxy NGC 55, the spiral galaxy NGC 300, and their companion galaxies have been considered by many researchers to be part of this group. However, recent distance measurements to these and other galaxies in the same region of the sky show that NGC 55, NGC 300, and their companions may simply be foreground galaxies that are physically unassociated with the Sculptor Group.^[2]

References

1. "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database". Results for NGC 253, identified as the core of the Sculptor Group. Retrieved 2006-11-25.
2. 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. 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. Burnham, Robert (1978). Burnham's Celestial Handbook; An Observers Guide to the Universe Beyond the Solar System; Volume Three, Pavo Through Vulpecula. Dover Publications, Inc. p. 1736. ISBN 0-486-24065-7.
5. "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database". Results for various galaxies. Retrieved 2006-11-25.

Coordinates: 00^h 48^m 00^s, −25° 17′ 00″