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"The Pinwheel" (M101) vs "The Pinwheel" (M33)

Crebles

By Crebles
in Observing - Discussion

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Crebles

Crebles

Posted
Posted

Hi folks. It seems that both M101 (aka NGC 5457)  AND The Triangulum Galaxy (NGC 598) go by the moniker "The Pinwheel".

A bit confusing for a newb like me.

I reckon The Pinwheel should be reserved for M101, not least as the Triangulum Galaxy already has an informal name ("the Triangulum Galaxy").

What do you think?

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swamp thing

swamp thing

Posted
Posted

M33 should be known as "the great Triangulum spiral" IMO. It's a fantastic sight from dark sites.

M101 is more like a pinwheel owing to its HII regions that do indeed make it appear more like a pinwheel.

Both galaxies, and their southern pinwheel cousin (M83) need dark skies to be seen well.

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John

John

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Talking of galaxy names, I get slightly vexed when I see M31 or the Andromeda Galaxy just referred to as "Andromeda" as in "... I think I spotted Andromeda last night ...". I have to resist pointing out the Andromeda is the constellation rather than the object.

Me being picky I guess .....  :rolleyes2:

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kirkster501

kirkster501

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I have always found M33 very tricky visually.  M101 in my opinion is easier visually since it is directly overhead from UK in April/May.

M101 is The Pinwheel Galaxy.  M33 is The Great Triangulum Galaxy.  Anyone who says otherwise is an idiot.

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WaveSoarer

WaveSoarer

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The triangulum galaxy is relatively large and can be picked out with binoculars in sufficiently dark skies. It looks like a big fuzzy blob. M101 is much harder though and it's significantly smaller. M33 also doesn't have a bright core so that makes it tricky to find despite its size.

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dick_dangerous

dick_dangerous

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Well I always knew M101 as the Pinwheel and M33 as, "The Triangulum Galaxy." I found M101 harder to see than M33 which is a piece of the proverbial under proper dark skies. Damn near impossible from London I should imagine - I've only ever seen both under really dark skies in the middle of nowhere.

Just to really confuse things, I have seen M33 referred to as the Whirlpool Galaxy before. As if it needed complicating further...

It should be noted that neither galaxy looks much like a Pinwheel with a 3'' refractor.

DD

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Crebles

Crebles

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ok. balancing out on the side of M101=The Pinwheel, M33=not.  Glad its not just me then. Thanks guys.

ps/ to dick_dangerous: please tell me the Bat Detector in your signature is some kind of Super-viliain gadget....

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dick_dangerous

dick_dangerous

Posted
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ok. balancing out on the side of M101=The Pinwheel, M33=not.  Glad its not just me then. Thanks guys.

ps/ to dick_dangerous: please tell me the Bat Detector in your signature is some kind of Super-viliain gadget....

It's better than that, it's for listening to bats echo-locate. It's a bit of a cheat, I borrow one from work from time to time, but I'm hoping my wife gets me one of my very own for my birthday next year.

DD

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