NGC 253, also known as the Sculptor Galaxy, is a spiral galaxy located about 11.4 million light-years away in the constellation Sculptor. It is one of the brightest galaxies in the sky and is classified as a starburst galaxy, meaning it is currently forming stars at a much higher rate than normal. Discovered by Carlo Emilio Bonifacio, an Italian astronomer, in 1783, NGC 253 has a prominent dust lane and a bright central region filled with young, hot stars. Its size is approximately 70,000 light-years across, making it a significant object of study for astronomers interested in galaxy formation and evolution.