| M 33 (NGC 598) Triangulum Galaxy M33 is visible to the naked aye from a very dark site , it is very challenging but it can be seen. M33 is a Type SC galaxy belonging to the local group, 0.9 mpc or 3.1 Million Light Years away. This is a new image taken with a TMB triplet CNC APO 80mm f/6 with a Tele-Vue .8 reducer/flattener. The full resolution image actually reveals the hint of structure and stars within the many red nebula knots shown throughout its arms. These Nebula (Red areas) are star forming areas much like the Great Orion Nebula (M42) and Eagle Nebula (M16). I had taken a much shorter image years ago with an Orion ED 80 and wanted to really capture more detail. I also noted that several background galaxies are also visible throughout the image seen through some of M33's arms. |
| Telescope / Lens | TMB 80 mm f/ 6 with Tele-Vue .8 FF / reducer f/4.8 384 mm |
| Mount Type | Astrophysics 1200 |
| Camera | SBIG ST10XME |
| Filters | Astrodon LRGB e-series of balanced filters (generation 1) |
| Film | CCD |
| Exposure | 345 minutes (5.75 Hours) HaLRGB (Ha=50 min; L=145 min; RGB= 150 min.; (5 min. & 10 min. sub-images) |
| Processing | CCDSoft, CCDStack, AIP, Photoshop CS2 |
| Date | 09/19/2009 |
| Location | Snow Peak, S/E of Cottage Grove, Oregon 122° 52' 35" W,
43° 31' 21"N |
| Conditions | 4658' elevation, magnitude 6 Skies; Clear ; Humidity 65-80% 51 degrees, wind 0-3 M.P.H. |