M33

[gooseholla]

This galaxy I have wanted for a long time, probably ever since I started astronomy 5 years ago. Could never find it. However, during a break in the clouds, fired the telrad up, moved up towards andromeda and there it was. Was a really strange feeling to finally bag it. However, perhaps, in some ways, a disappointing object. It is rather large but rather faint. Nothing really stands out that shows it to be a galaxy, except a slightly brighter central area. Was more like a light patch in the sky than any kind of detailed galaxy. Hoping to view again when the clouds are gone, with a lower power EP, to see if I get any different impressions of the object.

Really pleased to have found this though after all this time! Perseverance does pay off.

[Stu]

I knew what you mean about this one. It's visible in binos and I've seen in my 106mm from dark sites but it never appears anything other than a general brightening of the sky, with a bit of a core. It's very large with low surface brightness so gets washed out easily.

Still pleased to see it when I do though

Stu

[Moonshane]

from a dark site with my old 12" I could see the spiral structure of this galaxy like a faint M51.

[Stu]

Still kick myself for not buying that from you Shane

Stu

[cotterless45]

Managed it in the 10" last night. Faint, but visible in 15x70 bins. Don't throw too much mag at it though, nice,

Nick.

[swamp thing]

This is a stunning object but as you noticed your sky must be dark else a slightly brighter oval of sky s all you will see.

[Mike73]

Yet to see this one myself but looking forward to the challenge of getting the spiral arms.

I've picked this galaxy to do comparison sketches between my current 12" f/5 and my 16" f/4.5 when it arrives, should be interesting.

[rory]

an oval core is all i managed in my 8" the other night.

mike you increasing aperture again ? your not messing about areyou

[cotterless45]

There's a couple of galaxies to the back of Pegagsus at the moment worth checking out;

NGC7479: barred spiral

NGC7331 plus satellites 7335,7337.(Stephen's quintet.

Bit further to M31 is the fabulous Blue Snowball NGC7662; got this in a 102 refractor, it's bright and colourful,

Nick.

[WayBig]

Well done, m33 is a bit of a thorn in my side, I've tried using various bits of kit at different locations and not spotted it yet. I think I once got a hint of it using bins, but it wasn't convincing enough to record it as seen.

The council have started turning off streetlights late at night where I live so I'm planning on staying out late one night and taking advantage to try to see it then, fingers crossed.

[gooseholla]

I had to wait until the middle of the night and it was a fair way above the houses and glow of streetlights, etc.

[andrew63]

I had a similar problem to you with M101 - share similar features as large objects with low contrast - so dark skies really help. I found M33 a bit easier to see than M101 in a small telescope. Great that you've seen it though.

andrew

[James]

Yet to see this one myself but looking forward to the challenge of getting the spiral arms.

I've picked this galaxy to do comparison sketches between my current 12" f/5 and my 16" f/4.5 when it arrives, should be interesting.

Given that with a 14" (in a fairly dark sky) I can see the arms and various knotty features the view through the 16" should be impressive...

James