NGC 598
Messier 33, The Triangulum Galaxy
Capture Credit: Kyle Ingersoll & FAObservatory
Click image to pinch/zoom
Target Details
At a distance of approximately 2.73 million light years and containing roughly 40 billion stars, M33 is a spiral galaxy located behind the Triangulum constellation. It is possible this galaxy was discovered 100 years prior to Charles Messier’s independent discovery by the Italian astronomer Giovanni Battista Hodierna.
This particular image of M33 contains exaggerated HII regions, visible as pinkish-red cloudy structures within the galaxy. These regions are emission nebulae, specifically ionized hydrogen. Boosting these regions yields a great visual representation of how these nebulae are arranged throughout other galaxies, as well as a breathtaking photograph.
Wait, what exactly is a galaxy in the first place? Well, they are essentially the largest “building blocks” of the universe. They contain everything that is smaller than them, from nebulae to stars, planets, moons, comets—you name it, it likely resides within a galaxy.
Click image for annotated version

Capture Details
This two panel mosaic represents 39.75 hours total exposure on target, through 5 individual filters as follows:
86 x 7 minute Luminance subs
54 x 14 minute H-Alpha subs
40 x 5.25 minute Red subs
40 x 5.25 minute Green subs
40 x 5.25 minute Blue subs
–14 flats for each filter, 21 darks, & 28 bias
All light frames were captured at scales of either 0.82”/pixel, or 1.68”/pixel with the camera sensor cooled to -15°celsius to reduce noise. Acquisition took place between the dates of 05/10/2021 & 07/11/2021. Full capture credit belongs to Fundy Archipelago Observatory.

Equipment Details
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Name: Fundy Archipelago Observatoy
Location: Grand Manan, NB, Canada
Coordinates: 44.699038° N, -66.782410° W
Elevation: 58.9 m -
WO FLT-132 refractor (925mm focal length)
WO 1x field flattener
Atik One 9.0 integrated OAG (pick-off prism)
Chroma LHRGB filter set -
Avalon Linear German equatorial mount
T-POD 130 tripod
WO m92 field rotator
3.5” Feather Touch R&P focuser
WO clear Bahtinov mask -
Atik One 9.0 monochrome CCD camera
Atik GP planetary camera (guiding)
PoleMaster assisted polar alignment camera
Kendrick Astro Instumets DigiFire & USB/power hubs -
ASCOM
N.I.N.A.
Avalon StarGo
PHD2
Cartes du Ciel
PixInsight