images

Spiral galaxy M33 in Triangulum

by

A.Block/MLSC/Univ.of Az/Novapix

Reference

a-gax05-98021

Date

2009-12-16

Also known as M33 or NGC 598, the Triangulum Galaxy is part of the Local Group of galaxies, which includes the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) and our galaxy, the Milky Way. M33 is over thirty thousand light-years across, and more than two million light-years away. The image taken with a 24-inch telescope shows the many stars within the galaxy as well as reddish star forming regions that are filled with hot hydrogen gas.