We report here the results of a full analysis of all the ROSAT PSPC spectral imaging observations and all the ROSAT HRI high resolution imaging observations of the very nearby ( D = 2.1 Mpc ) Sculptor galaxy , NGC 300 .
Many point sources are detected within the field , several of them showing evidence for variability , and we present full source lists detailing their X-ray properties , and attempt to classify them on the basis of their temporal , spectral and multi-wavelength characteristics .
A black hole X-ray binary candidate , a supersoft source and several supernova remnants and H ii regions are detected in X-rays , as is unresolved , possibly diffuse emission , accounting for perhaps \sim 20 % of the total NGC 300 X-ray ( 0.1 - 2.4 keV ) luminosity ( 5.8 \times 10 ^ { 38 } erg s ^ { -1 } ) .
We compare the X-ray source luminosity distribution of NGC 300 with that of other nearby galaxies , and we also compare NGC 300 with its Sculptor neighbours , concluding that it is a quite an unremarkable system , showing no unusual X-ray ( or other multi-wavelength ) properties .
It may be one of the best examples of a completely typical normal quiescent late-type spiral galaxy .