NGC 253 is a nearby galaxy at a distance of approximately 8 million light years away. The galaxy is some 60,000 light years in diameter- and its full disk extends beyond the field of view shown here. However, at this resolution (click on image) you can make out many features of this galaxy including: clumpy and dark clouds of gas, bright blue and white star clouds, and pink HII (clouds of molecular hydrogen) regions which are tremendous stellar nurseries . Also note the small galaxy just "above" the disk at the top right of the image