Spiral Galaxy NGC 300

NGC 300 is so interesting because it is so normal. An Sc-type spiral galaxy in the nearby Sculptor group of galaxies , NGC 300 shows typical flowing blue spiral arms , an expected compact nucleus , and the requisite amount of stars , star clusters , and nebulae . Therefore, studying NGC 300 should indicate how, exactly, a normal spiral galaxy works. Toward this goal, NGC 300 and the surrounding area were studied in exquisite detail, creating and combining a series of high-resolution images to create the above conglomerate picture . NGC 300 lies only 7 million light years away, spans nearly the same amount of sky as the full moon , and is visible with a small telescope toward the constellation of Sculptor .