Astrophotos

Location: Mount Pinos, CA
Date: October 5, 2002
Subject: M33 in Triangulum
Exposure: Two, 40-min. exposures combined and adjusted in Adobe Photoshop
Telescope: Megrez 80mm @ f/5
Mount: Losmandy GM-8
Guiding: ST-4 autoguider
Film: Fuji Super HQ 100
Comments: M33 is one of the three large spiral members on the Local group of galaxies which include the Milky Way and M31. It is very bright at magnitude 6.3 but it is very large at 75'X45' making it a somewhat disappointing object through a telescope. Careful and patient viewing will reveal a wealth of detail though. It is easy to spot in nearly all binoculars and can be seen with the naked eye at very dark sites using averted vision.