M33 – Triangulum galaxy or Pinwheel galaxy

in Triangulum

pinwheel galaxy

The Triangulum Galaxy, also known as Messier 33 (M33), is a beautiful spiral galaxy located approximately 3 million light-years away in the constellation Triangulum. As the third-largest member of the Local Group of galaxies, following the Andromeda Galaxy and the Milky Way, M33 spans around 60,000 light-years in diameter. Known for its loosely wound spiral structure and relatively low mass, the Triangulum Galaxy contains vast regions of active star formation, most notably in the giant star-forming region NGC 604, one of the largest such areas known. Its spiral arms are filled with clusters of young, blue stars, and large nebulae glowing with the intense light from new stars. M33 is also a popular target for study due to its face-on orientation, which provides an unobstructed view of its structure, making it a key object for understanding the dynamics and evolution of spiral galaxies. Its proximity and active stellar nurseries offer astronomers an exceptional glimpse into processes that shape galaxies and fuel star formation. Written by ChatGPT.

Imaging Details


Telescope:  6 inch f/4 Newtonian with Paracorr Type 2 (effective focal length 690mm) and 2” Feather Touch Focuser

Camera:  Player One Poseidon-C Pro, Anti-Halo Pro Ha+OIII filter, Optolong L-Pro filter, Filter Drawer Max

Resolution: 1.11 arcsec/px 

Mount:  Mesu Mount 200

Guiding:  Player One OAG Max and ZWO ASI290MM Mini guide camera

Exposure Length: HOO: 300 sec x 66, Opto L-Pro: 300 sec x 12

Location:  Glenwood, MN

Date:  9/24/2024, 9/25/2024

Software:  SciTech, SkyGuide (Innovations Foresight), N.I.N.A., Optic FocusLynx, Pixinsight, SkySafari Pro