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> Spiral galaxy M33 in Triangulum

Spiral galaxy M33 in Triangulum

author: D.De Martin/Novapix

reference: a-gax05-98007

Image Size 300 DPI: 40 * 40 cm

Spiral galaxy M33 is a mid-sized member of our Local Group of Galaxies. M33 is also called the Triangulum Galaxy for the constellation in which it resides. About four times smaller (in radius) than our Milky Way Galaxy and the Andromeda Galaxy (M31), it is much larger than the many of the local dwarf spheroidal galaxies. M33's proximity to M31 causes it to be thought by some to be a satellite galaxy of this more massive galaxy. M33's proximity to our Milky Way Galaxy causes it to appear more than twice the angular size of the Full Moon, and be visible with a good pair of binoculars.
This image is a composite from black and white images taken with the Palomar Observatory's 48-inch (1.2-meter) Samuel Oschin Telescope as a part of the second National Geographic Palomar Observatory Sky Survey (POSS II). The images were recorded on two type of glass photographic plates - one sensitive to red light and the other to blue and later they were digitized.

Keywords for this photo:

ASTRONOMY - DSS - GALAXY - LOCAL GROUP - M33 - MOUNT PALOMAR - NEBULA - NGC 598 - NGC 604 - PALOMAR - Sc - SPIRAL GALAXY - STAR - STAR FORMATION - TRIANGULUM -