Star-packed Triangulum Galaxy shines in new Hubble Telescope image

By Samantha Mathewson
published 6 hours ago

'The apparent graininess of the image is actually swarms of countless stars.'



Hubble Space Telescope image of the Triangulum Galaxy, also known as Messier 33, which is the third-largest galaxy in our Local Group of galaxies. (Image credit: NASA, ESA, M. Boyer (STScI), and J. Dalcanton (University of Washington); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America))

A nearby galaxy is shining with star formation in a new image from the Hubble Space Telescope.

The spiral galaxy Messier 33 (M33), also known as the Triangulum Galaxy, is the third-largest member of the Local Group of galaxies, after the Andromeda galaxy (M31) and our own Milky Way. Measuring only 60,000 light-years across, M33 is about half the size of the Milky Way.

Located nearly 3 million light years from Earth, the Triangulum Galaxy is regarded as a "hotbed of starbirth," forming stars at a rate 10 times higher than the neighboring Andromeda galaxy, according to a statement from NASA.

"Interestingly, M33's neat, organized spiral arms indicate little interaction with other galaxies, so its rapid starbirth is not fueled by galactic collision, as in many other galaxies," NASA officials said in the statement.

More:
https://www.space.com/star-packed-triangulum-galaxy-hubble-telescope-photo