Posted on 12/19/2012 9:29:54 PM PST by SunkenCiv
Explanation: The small, northern constellation Triangulum harbors this magnificent face-on spiral galaxy, M33. Its popular names include the Pinwheel Galaxy or just the Triangulum Galaxy. M33 is over 50,000 light-years in diameter, third largest in the Local Group of galaxies after the Andromeda Galaxy (M31), and our own Milky Way. About 3 million light-years from the Milky Way, M33 is itself thought to be a satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy and astronomers in these two galaxies would likely have spectacular views of each other's grand spiral star systems. As for the view from planet Earth, this sharp composite image, a 25 panel mosaic, nicely shows off M33's blue star clusters and pinkish star forming regions that trace the galaxy's loosely wound spiral arms. In fact, the cavernous NGC 604 is the brightest star forming region, seen here at about the 1 o'clock position from the galaxy center. Like M31, M33's population of well-measured variable stars have helped make this nearby spiral a cosmic yardstick for establishing the distance scale of the Universe.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
[Credit & Copyright: Robert Gendler, Subaru Telescope (NAOJ); Image data: Subaru Telescope, Robert Gendler, Brigham Young University Obs., Johannes Schedler]
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Love it! Thanks!
Got a brief look through some binoculars the other night. Quite a large smudge in the sky.
It was dark enough that I thought I might have seen it naked-eye, but, it was probably wishful thinking.
Andromeda was like a basketball...I mean HUGH! :)
I’m Sirius!
Triangulum? Did the Clintons come from there?
Pretty cool! If this warp drive thing at NASA works out maybe people can even visit it in a few years.
:’)
My pleasure!
That relationship ain’t no triangle, it’s a dodecahedron at least. :’D
I’m slinking off to the Bad Analogy Offenders Work Camp. See you in 20 years.
It’s been a hoot, good lookin’!
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