Messier Gallery

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The face-on spiral galaxy M33 in Triangulum.

M33 is relatively close-by (~2-3 million L.Y.), and large (3rd largest in Local Group, after Andromeda Galaxy and Milky Way). However, it has a low surface brightness due to its face-on orientation. This image shows dust clouds and emission nebulae (star-forming regions) in its spiral arms, which extend well outside this image. Images showing M33's full extent can be found here. 60-second exposure, 18 Aug 1996, 11:25 UT.

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