M33, the Triangulum Galaxy |
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| M33 is one of the spectacular deep sky objects
visible during fall (for the Northern Hemisphere). From our
perspective, it lies in the constellation Triangulum, near
Andromeda. For this reason it is known as the Triangulum galaxy,
though it is also called the Pinwheel Galaxy (along with
M101). Despite its relative proximity to our galaxy and large size from our perspective, M33 is hard to see from a light-polluted site because it is dim for its size. It is classified by some as a low-surface-brightness galaxy for this reason. Part of the reason for M33's low-surface brightness is its lack of a bright core region, as is typical of most spiral galaxies. It has recently been determined to lack a black hole in its nucleus, which may explain its loose nature as well as its low surface brightness. M33 is known to be interacting with M31, and may eventually merge with its larger neighbor. M31 has recently been determined to have two black holes in its core, and observations have also indicated that M33 had a close encounter with M31 in the past. Now, wouldn't it be neat if we ever determine that the second black hole at M31's core actually used to reside at M33's core? M33 is best seen from a dark sky site. My first definite sighting of this galaxy was at a very dark site in New Mexico through a 25" reflector in 2008, though high thin clouds at the time prevented me from seeing it at its best. |
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| Constellation: Triangulum | ||
| When Visible: September - January | ||
| Distance: 3 Million Light-years | ||
| Date: October - November, 2011 | ||
| Location: Rancho Hidalgo (now Darl Sky New Mexico), Animas, NM | ||
| Exposure Details:
H-alpha: 14 x 30 minutes binned 1x1 L: 13 x 10 minutes binned 1x1 R: 6 x 10 minutes binned 1x1 G: 6 x 10 minutes binned 1x1 B: 6 x 10 minutes binned 1x1 |
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| Takahashi TOA-130F on an Astro-Physics AP1200GTO mount. SBIG STL-6303E camera with FW8-STL filter wheel and Astrodon LRGB filters. Robofocus focuser and Astrodon Takometer rotator. | ||
| Acquisition Software : MaximDL, TheSky6, CCDAutopilot | ||
| Processing Software: MaximDL, Photoshop CS, IrFanView | ||
| Older versions: 2004 Version. Takahashi FS-102 on a Takahashi EM200 Temma-2 Mount. SBIG ST-8XE with Custom-Scientific LRGB Filters. | ||
| Older versions: 2008 Version. Takahashi FSQ-106N on an Astro-Physics AP1200GTO mount. SBIG ST-10XMEI camera with CFW-8a filter wheel and Astrodon LRGB filters and Hutech LPS filter. Externally guided with a Meade DSI Pro on a Borg 45ED refractor. |
