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M33, THE TRIANGULUM GALAXY on 2023-10-13,14
The spiral galaxy M33 is in the triangle-shaped
constellation of Triangulum, earning it the nickname, The Triangulum Galaxy. It
is about half the size of our Milky Way Galaxy. M33 is the third-largest member
of our Local Group of galaxies following the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) and our
galaxy the Milky Way. M33 is forming new stars at a rate approximately 10 times
the average found in the Andromeda galaxy. The Triangulum Galaxy’s orderly
spiral structure displays few signs of interactions with nearby galaxies.
However, that could change in the future. M33 is only slightly farther away from
us than the Andromeda Galaxy. It is located about 3 million light-years from
Earth. M33 appears to be a gravitational companion to Andromeda, and since both
galaxies are moving toward our galaxy, M33 could become a third party involved
in the impending collision between the Andromeda Galaxy and Milky Way Galaxy.
This will happen in about 4 billion years. This photo was taken in Fort Mckavet, Texas through a 6-inch f/4 Telescope, on a Sky-Watcher EQ6-R mount, with a ZWO
ASI533MC PRO color camera.