Hidden Nebulae of M33 in 211 Hours

The image reveals the Triangulum Galaxy in unprecedented detail, with 211 hours of exposure time, capturing the vast array of stellar birth and death. Messier 33 lies almost 2.7 million light years away from us in the constellation Triangulum. About half the size of our Milky Way galaxy, M33 is a home for approximately 40 billion stars.

 

The portrait of M33 above merges broadband data with narrowband imaging, combining the galaxy's natural palette with faint nebulae that are hard to see in broadband. The vibrant emissions from hydrogen-alpha (Ha) and doubly ionized oxygen (OIII) regions illuminate the star-forming nebulae and trace the skeletal structure of the galaxy's arms.

 

This image was captured from my backyard in Williamsburg, Virginia with a small 4.8" refractor telescope. Despite the small aperture, the vast collection of exposure time allowed me to reveal a lot of objects that lie within the galaxy.

 

Equipment and Exposure Details:

 

- Telescope: SvBony SV550 122mm APO Refractor (f/5.6 and 683.2mm focal length with a focal reducer/flattener)

- Focal Reducer/Flattener: SvBony SV209 0.8x Focal Reducer/Field Flattener

- Camera: ZWO ASI 2600MC Pro (cooled to minus 5°C, gain 100, offset 50 for all images)

- Filters:

- 2” Optolong UV/Ir-cut filter for broadband imaging

- 2” 7nm SvBony SV220 dual narrowband filter for narrowband imaging

- Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro

- Guide Scope: Orion Mini 50mm Guide Scope

- Guide Camera: SvBony SV305

 

Observation Period: August 18, 2023 to November 30, 2023

 

Frames stacked:

- Optolong UV/IR cut 2": 438×300″ (36h 30′)

- SvBony SV220 7nm 2": 2099×300″ (174h 55′)

 

Total Exposure Time: 211 hours 25 minutes

Done