M33, this galaxy, often called the Pinwheel Galexy lies in the constelation Triangulum, not far from the Andromeda (M33) galaxy. In fact, M33 is a member of our local group, with Andromeda and our Milky Way.
A difficult object to spot visually due to it's low surface brightness, M33 is a fantastic, but challenging object to photograph. The hard part is getting it centered in the camera, as it's difficult to see through the viewfinder - even from the dark skies at my New Mexico home. Then, to make matters worse, there are few bright stars nearby to guide on! A challenge at best!
The photograph below was taken with the Hubble Space Telescope and shows a giant diffuse nebula within M33 labled NGC604. While we often see diffuse nebula within our own MilkyWay, only a few nebula are easily spotted in OTHER galaxies. Inside this nebula, like so many of our own, new stars are being formed in a torrent of hot gasses.
Use your mouse to explore my photograph (left) and see if you can find where this Hubble shot was taken. If you need help, move your mouse to the far upper left corner and the location will be identified.
M33 Galaxy in Triangulum NGC598
