Spiral galaxy in Triangulum
Also called the Pinwheel Galaxy, Messier 33 is the second-closest spiral galaxy to us after the famous Andromeda Galaxy. Like the Andromeda Galaxy, it can be seen with the naked eye, but with an overall magnitude of 5.8, it is a more difficult target and requires very dark skies. It is estimated to be 2.3 million light years away, which is just a bit farther than the Andromeda Galaxy. The Triangulum Galaxy is therefore the most distant object that can be seen without optical aid (at least by most people).
Through a telescope, Messier 33 is
not very impressive at first sight, because its low surface brightness makes it
difficult to see well. However,
with patience and good observing techniques, quite a few details in the
galaxy’s structure can be discerned.
| Magnitude | 5.8 |
| Apparent Size | 62' x 39' |
| Distance (light yrs) | 2.3 million |
| Right Ascension | 1:33.9 |
| Declination | +30 39 |
| Field of View | 54' x 40' |
Image details: A mosaic of two images, each based on exposure times of about 9 minutes each of luminance, red, green, and blue, taken with an SBIG ST-8300M camera through a 14" Meade LX850 telescope at f/4.2.
December 2017