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rodelaet
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/28/06
Posts: 3063
Loc: 50°56' N - 4°58' E (Belgium)
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M33, the Triangulum Galaxy,
With a total brightness of mag 5.7, M33 has misled many observers. Its low surface brightness is spread over an area larger than the full moon. When observed with too high powers, the galaxy does not provide enough contrast with the background to be detected at all. With a pair of 15x70, I found M33 obvious. At first, a large oval smudge of light can be noticed. With care, the core appears as a detached patch in the centre of the oval. The patient observer will be rewarded with the detection of brightness variations in the halo, revealing a partial resolution of the spiral structure of the galaxy. I could not see the small patch of the NGC 604 star cloud in the SW part of the halo. NGC 604 should become visible with 25x100 bino’s. M33 is at a distance of 2.7 million l-y, just beyond the Andromeda Galaxy. Both galaxies, and our Milky Way also, are members of the Local Galaxy Group,
Site : Butgenbach, Belgium ( 51° N )
Date : September 9, 2008
Time : around 0.00UT
Binoculars : TS Marine 15x70
FOV: 4.4°
Filter : none
Mount : Trico Machine Sky Window
Seeing : 4/5
Transp. : 4/5
Sky brightness : 21.05 magnitudes per square arc second near zenith (SQM reading).
Nelm : 6.4
Sketch Orientation : N up, W right.
Digital sketch made with Corel Paint Shop Pro X2, based on a raw pencil sketch.
(Note: if the sketch does look too dark on your monitor, try to darken the room.)
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Rony
My Astronomical Sketches
My Binocular Sketches
Callibrate your Monitor with this little strip.
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frank5817
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/13/06
Posts: 4084
Loc: Illinois
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Rony,
Very impressive sketch of M-33. You have captured its shape and glow in a remarkable manner. I have never had binoculars with me when I have had ideal conditions for observing this impressive spiral galaxy. I have viewed it in small fast scopes and found it impressive. At an observing site I used several times 275 miles from my home back in the late 1970's, it was so easy to see directly without optical aide, I was convinced that my home was useless for observing. After returning home I would be mildly depressed with my poor skies and could not observe for days. I don't let that sort of thing bother me any more.
Very nice post Rony.    
Frank 
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my gallery
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WadeVC
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/02/05
Posts: 2831
Loc: Lodi, California,
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Rony,
Excellent rendering of M33, and that is exactly as it appears to me in a low-power EP. Very faint, almost ghost-like. Very nice indeed!
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Orion XTi10 f/4.7
Orion XTi8 f/5.9
Meade NGC 70mm f/10
Orion UltraView 10x50 Wide-Angle Binoculars
My Sketch Gallery
My Astronomy Blog
A wise man can see more from the bottom of a well than a fool can from a mountain top.
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rodelaet
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/28/06
Posts: 3063
Loc: 50°56' N - 4°58' E (Belgium)
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Frank and Wade,
Thank you!
Frank, I know what you mean when coming back from darker skies. At such a moment, it feels useless to observe under a lesser sky. 
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Rony
My Astronomical Sketches
My Binocular Sketches
Callibrate your Monitor with this little strip.
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CarlosEH
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/19/05
Posts: 4132
Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County...
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Rony,
A very impressive observation of this extensive galaxy in Triangulum. Dark skies are required to pick out the faint arms of this galaxy. You have captured it's appearance very nicely. Thank you for sharing it with us all.
Carlos
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rodelaet
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/28/06
Posts: 3063
Loc: 50°56' N - 4°58' E (Belgium)
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Carlos,
Thank you very much!
You are right, M33 can be very faint. I remember many attemps at looking for M33 with various instruments without any success. Low power views and dark skies are the key to see this galaxy at all.
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Rony
My Astronomical Sketches
My Binocular Sketches
Callibrate your Monitor with this little strip.
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