Spiral galaxy · Triangulum
M33 Triangulum Galaxy
Also known as: NGC 598
mag 5.771′ across
About
M33, the Triangulum Galaxy, is a spiral galaxy of magnitude 5.7 in Triangulum, about 71′ across.
How to find it
- M33 is in the constellation Triangulum.
- Best evenings: around late November it is highest at about 9 pm (10 pm in summer time); a month earlier, two hours later.
- Where on Earth: it is seen well, at least 10° up, from north of 49° S.
- Great Square of Pegasus: A large, faint spiral on the far side of Mirach from M31; a very dark sky.
When it rises and sets tonight, how high it climbs and how much the Moon gets in the way are worked out in your browser for your place.
What you will see
- EyesJust visible from a very dark site with averted vision — a test of your sky.
- Binoculars (10×50)A large, faint, round glow, often easier in binoculars than in a telescope.
- Telescope (6–8 inch)Large and dim: at low power from a dark site, a hazy patch with a brighter core. The arms need a dark sky, an 8-inch and patience.
For a dark country sky with no Moon. From a city, faint galaxies and nebulae can disappear completely.
Facts
| Designations | M33, NGC 598, PGC 5818, UGC 1117 |
|---|---|
| Type | Spiral galaxy (Sc) |
| Magnitude | 5.7The smaller the number, the brighter. |
| Apparent size | 71′ × 42′position angle 23°; the full Moon is 31′ across |
| Surface brightness | 23.6 mag/arcsec²Average over its disc, in the blue band: the lower the number, the easier it is to see. |
| Constellation | Triangulum |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 01h 33m 50.9s |
| Declination (J2000) | +30° 39′ 37″ |
More in Triangulum
Sources and credits
Catalog data: OpenNGC by Mattia Verga, CC BY-SA 4.0, and d3-celestial by Olaf Frohn, BSD 3-Clause. All data sources →