Sculptor (constellation)
Encyclopedia
Sculptor is a small and faint constellation
in the southern sky. It represents a sculptor. It was introduced by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille
in the 18th century. He originally named it Apparatus Sculptoris (the sculptor's studio), but the name was later shortened.
are located in Sculptor. This is explained by the fact that Sculptor contains the south galactic pole
where stellar density is very low.
The brightest is α Sculptoris
, an SX Arietis-type
variable star
with the magnitude of only 4.31m. The constellation also contains the Sculptor Dwarf
, a dwarf galaxy
which is a member of the Local Group
, as well as the Sculptor Group
, the group of galaxies closest to the Local Group. The Sculptor Galaxy
(NGC 253), a barred spiral galaxy
and the largest member of the group, lies near the border between Sculptor and Cetus
. Another prominent member of the group is the irregular galaxy
NGC 55
.
was a United States Navy
Crater class cargo ship
named after the constellation.
Constellation
In modern astronomy, a constellation is an internationally defined area of the celestial sphere. These areas are grouped around asterisms, patterns formed by prominent stars within apparent proximity to one another on Earth's night sky....
in the southern sky. It represents a sculptor. It was introduced by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille
Nicolas Louis de Lacaille
Abbé Nicolas Louis de Lacaille was a French astronomer.He is noted for his catalogue of nearly 10,000 southern stars, including 42 nebulous objects. This catalogue, called Coelum Australe Stelliferum, was published posthumously in 1763. It introduced 14 new constellations which have since become...
in the 18th century. He originally named it Apparatus Sculptoris (the sculptor's studio), but the name was later shortened.
Notable features
No stars brighter than 3rd magnitudeApparent magnitude
The apparent magnitude of a celestial body is a measure of its brightness as seen by an observer on Earth, adjusted to the value it would have in the absence of the atmosphere...
are located in Sculptor. This is explained by the fact that Sculptor contains the south galactic pole
Galactic coordinate system
The galactic coordinate system is a celestial coordinate system which is centered on the Sun and is aligned with the apparent center of the Milky Way galaxy. The "equator" is aligned to the galactic plane...
where stellar density is very low.
The brightest is α Sculptoris
Alpha Sculptoris
Alpha Sculptoris is a star in the constellation Sculptor.Alpha Sculptoris is a blue-white B-type giant with an apparent magnitude of +4.30. It is approximately 680 light years from Earth...
, an SX Arietis-type
SX Arietis variable
SX Arietis variables are a class of variable stars. They are high-temperature analogues of Alpha2 Canum Venaticorum variables and exhibit strong magnetic fields and intense He I and Si III spectral lines. They have brightness fluctuations of approximately 0.1 magnitudes with periods of...
variable star
Variable star
A star is classified as variable if its apparent magnitude as seen from Earth changes over time, whether the changes are due to variations in the star's actual luminosity, or to variations in the amount of the star's light that is blocked from reaching Earth...
with the magnitude of only 4.31m. The constellation also contains the Sculptor Dwarf
Sculptor Dwarf Galaxy
The Sculptor Dwarf Galaxy is a dwarf spheroidal galaxy that is a satellite of the Milky Way. The galaxy lies within the constellation Sculptor. It was discovered in 1937 by Harlow Shapley. The galaxy is located about 290,000 light-years away from the solar system...
, a dwarf galaxy
Dwarf galaxy
A dwarf galaxy is a small galaxy composed of up to several billion stars, a small number compared to our own Milky Way's 200-400 billion stars...
which is a member of the Local Group
Local Group
The Local Group is the group of galaxies that includes Earth's galaxy, the Milky Way. The group comprises more than 30 galaxies , with its gravitational center located somewhere between the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy...
, as well as the Sculptor Group
Sculptor Group
The Sculptor Group is a loose group of galaxies near the south galactic pole. 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....
, the group of galaxies closest to the Local Group. The Sculptor Galaxy
Sculptor Galaxy
The Sculptor Galaxy is an intermediate spiral galaxy in the constellation Sculptor...
(NGC 253), a barred spiral galaxy
Barred spiral galaxy
A barred spiral galaxy is a spiral galaxy with a central bar-shaped structure composed of stars. Bars are found in approximately two-thirds of all spiral galaxies...
and the largest member of the group, lies near the border between Sculptor and Cetus
Cetus
Cetus is a constellation. Its name refers to Cetus, a sea monster in Greek mythology, although it is often called 'the whale' today. Cetus is located in the region of the sky that contains other water-related constellations such as Aquarius, Pisces, and Eridanus.-Ecliptic:Although Cetus is not...
. Another prominent member of the group is the irregular galaxy
Irregular galaxy
An irregular galaxy is a galaxy that does not have a distinct regular shape, like a spiral or an elliptical galaxy. The shape of an irregular galaxy is uncommon – they do not fall into any of the regular classes of the Hubble sequence, and they are often chaotic in appearance, with neither a...
NGC 55
NGC 55
NGC 55 is a barred irregular galaxy located about 7 million light-years away in the constellation Sculptor. Along with its neighbor NGC 300, it is one the closest galaxies to the Local Group, probably lying between us and the Sculptor Group.-Nearby galaxies and group information:NGC 55 and the...
.
Namesakes
USS Sculptor (AK-103)USS Sculptor (AK-103)
USS Sculptor was an commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.Sculptor was laid down as SS D. W...
was a United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
Crater class cargo ship
Crater class cargo ship
Crater-class cargo ship is a category of freighter that was constructed for use by the United States Navy during World War II under Maritime Commission EC2-S-C1 type....
named after the constellation.