The Triangulum Galaxy (M33) is the third-largest member of our Local Group, after the Milky Way and Andromeda. At only 2.73 million light-years away, it’s close enough to show incredible detail in amateur images.
Equipment
- Telescope: Orion 8″ 1000mm f/4.9 Newtonian reflector
- Mount: Orion Atlas EQ-G
- Imaging Camera: Canon T3i (full spectrum modification)
- Guide Scope: Meade 800mm f/10 reduced to f/5 with Atik x.5 focal reducer
- Guide Camera: Meade DSI Pro monochrome 16-bit
Capture Details
- Integration: 120 x 180sec exposures (6 hours total!)
- Captured: Across three nights in October 2025
- Software: N.I.N.A 3.1 for capture, Siril 1.4.0 for stacking
- Resolution: 4905 x 3223 pixels
About This Object
The Triangulum Galaxy is often overlooked in favor of its larger neighbor Andromeda, but M33 has a lot to offer:
- 61,100 light-years in diameter
- Shows beautiful spiral structure with many HII regions (star-forming nebulae)
- Face-on orientation gives us a clear view of its spiral arms
- The reddish blobs visible throughout are star-forming regions similar to our own Orion Nebula
This was a marathon project — 6 hours of integration over three nights. The extra exposure time really helps bring out the faint outer arms and the numerous HII regions scattered throughout the galaxy.
