The third-largest member of the Local Group and the most distant object regularly visible to the naked eye under exceptional conditions. Low surface brightness makes it challenging; long exposures reveal the HII regions NGC 604 — one of the largest emission nebulae known — dotted through the spiral arms.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of object is M 33?
M 33 is a galaxy.
Which constellation is M 33 in?
M 33 lies in the constellation Triangulum.
How far away is M 33?
The light in this image left M 33 roughly ~2.73 million years ago, so that is how far back in time you are seeing it.
What are the coordinates of M 33?
M 33 sits at right ascension 01h 35m 19s and declination +30° 39′ 17″ (J2000).
When is the best time to photograph M 33?
M 33 rides highest in the evening sky around October, reaching about 67° above the horizon from around 54°N.
What equipment was used to photograph M 33?
This image of M 33 was captured with ZWO Seestar S50 and ZWO Seestar S50 Camera.
How much exposure time went into this image?
This image of M 33 represents 28m (167 × 10s) of total integration time.
