Triangulum Galaxy (M 33) with TEC-140

clic for 50% size 1902 x 1333 (466 kB)

clic for 70% size 1541 x 1300 (410 kB)


About this Image

First light for the new TEC-140 refractor targetting the Triangulum galaxy M 33. It is another prominent member of the Local Group of galaxies. This face-on galaxy is small compared to its big apparent neighbor, the Andromeda galaxy M31, and to our Milky Way galaxy, but by this more of average size for spiral galaxies in the universe.

The distance to M 33 is approx. 3 million light years. Compare a deeper view here.
Many young blue stars are resolved in the galaxy.

A huge H II region containing ionized hydrogene has obtained a NGC number of its own: NGC 604; it is situated in the northeastern part of the galaxy; apparently the bright knot at 1h from the center of this image. This is one of the largest H II regions known at all: it has a diameter of nearly 1500 light-years, and a spectrum similar to the Orion nebula M 42.

One asteroid trail can be seen at 9h from the center.
North is up.


Technical Details
Optics

TEC-140 APO refractor at f/7, no flattener

Mount MK-100 GEM
Camera SBIG STL-11000M at -30C, internal filter wheel
Filters Astronomik RGB
Date Nov 20, 2005.
Location Wildon/Austria
Sky Conditions mag 5 sky, some haze, temperature 0 C,
Exposure RGB= 30:30:50 min (10-minute sub-exposures)
all 1x1.
Processing Image aquisition and calibration in Maxim DL 4.11; DDP in ImagesPlus;
Photoshop: curves, color balance, light unsharp mask; noise reduction by Neatimage