M 33 (NGC 598) -- Spiral Galaxy in Triangulum
Pinwheel Galaxy
The Pinwheel Galaxy (M33) is a Spiral Galaxy that is relatively close to our Milky Way
Galaxy. Considering that it covers a section of the night sky about the size of two full
moons (it is 50,000 light years across) and has a magnitude of 5.7 you would think
that this is an easy object to see. But it isn't. With such a low surface brightness it
disappears from view unless you are under truly dark skies. Only under the best of
nights can I find the Pinwheel Galaxy using binoculars or wide-field telescope here in
Central Maryland.
Galaxy. Considering that it covers a section of the night sky about the size of two full
moons (it is 50,000 light years across) and has a magnitude of 5.7 you would think
that this is an easy object to see. But it isn't. With such a low surface brightness it
disappears from view unless you are under truly dark skies. Only under the best of
nights can I find the Pinwheel Galaxy using binoculars or wide-field telescope here in
Central Maryland.