Also known as the Pinwheel Galaxy, M33 in Triangulum was imaged with a 12.5-inch Optical Guidance Systems Ritchey-Chrétien telescope at f/6 and an SBIG ST10 CCD camera. This is a two-image mosaic, each an LRGB with exposure times of 60, 10, 10, and 10 minutes, respectively.
Robert Gendler
The Pinwheel Galaxy was discovered by the French comet hunter Charles Messier in 1764. Messier was compiling a list of objects that looked like comets in his small telescope but did not move against the background stars as comets did. The Pinwheel Galaxy is 33rd on Messier’s list of 110 objects, so it is also known by the designation M33.
M33 is the most distant member of the Local Group, a collection of about forty galaxies of which our Milky Way is a member. M33 is visible to the naked eye on a clear, moonless night from locations away from city lights.
M33 is also a popular target among amateur astronomers. Here you will find a few renditions of the Pinwheel captured by dedicated hobbyists.
Robert Gendler captured the Pinwheel Galaxy in Triangulum with a 12.5-inch Optical Guidance Systems Ritchey-Chrétien telescope at f/6 and an SBIG ST10 CCD camera. This is a two-image mosaic, each an LRGB with exposure times of 60, 10, 10, and 10 minutes, respectively. Robert Gendler
Chris Schur created this image of the Pinwheel using his 12.5-inch homemade Newtonian reflector at f/5 on an Astro-Physics 1200 QMD mount. Chris used an SBIG ST8I CCD camera and made an LRGB exposure of 90, 20, 20, and 20 minutes, respectively. The image was taken from Payson, Arizona.
Chris Schur
Chris Schur of Payson, Arizona, created this image of the Pinwheel using his 12.5-inch homemade Newtonian reflector at f/5 on an Astro-Physics 1200 QMD mount. Chris used an SBIG ST8I CCD camera and made an LRGB exposure of 90, 20, 20, and 20 minutes, respectively. Chris Schur
Cliff Wright used an 18-inch Centurion reflector at f/2.8 and a SBIG ST8 CCD camera to image M33. This image was taken from Chiefland, Florida.
Cliff Wright
Cliff Wright of Tampa, Florida, imaged M33 with an 18-inch Centurion reflector at f/2.8 and a SBIG ST8 CCD camera. The image was taken from Chiefland, Florida. Cliff Wright
James R. Foster of Los Angeles, California, recorded this image of M33 with his 13.1-inch classical Cassegrain reflector at f/7.5. He made a 100-minute exposure on hypered Kodak Tech Pan 2415, plus 80-, 70-, and 70-minute exposures on hypered Kodak PPF 400. All exposures were later electronically combined.
James R. Foster
James R. Foster of Los Angeles, California, recorded this image of M33 with his 13.1-inch classical Cassegrain reflector at f/7.5. He took a 100-minute exposure on hypered Kodak Tech Pan 2415 and then 80-, 70-, and 70-minute exposures on hypered Kodak PPF 400. The exposures were then electronically combined. James R. Foster
