Why is it called Triangulum Galaxy?

Etymology. The galaxy gets its name from the constellation Triangulum, where it can be spotted. It is sometimes informally referred to as the “Pinwheel Galaxy” by some astronomy references, in some computerized telescope software, and in some public outreach websites.

What is M51 in astronomy?

In M51, also known as the Whirlpool galaxy, these arms serve an important purpose: they are star-formation factories, compressing hydrogen gas and creating clusters of new stars.

Is Triangulum a dwarf galaxy?

Triangulum II (Tri II or Laevens 2) is a dwarf galaxy close to the Milky Way Galaxy. Like other dwarf spheroidal galaxies, its stellar population is very old: the galaxy was quenched before 11.5 billion years ago. It contains only 1000 stars, yet is quite massive, having a solar mass to light ratio of 3600.

Who discovered Triangulum constellation?

Giovanni Battista Hodierna
Deep-sky objects The Triangulum Galaxy, also known as Messier 33, was discovered by Giovanni Battista Hodierna in the 17th century. A distant member of the Local Group, it is about 2.3 million light-years away, and at magnitude 5.8 it is bright enough to be seen by the naked eye under dark skies.

What is object M51?

Located in the constellation of Canes Venatici is an exquisite object known as M51, the Whirlpool Galaxy. This was one of Messier’s original discoveries. He found it in 1773 while observing a comet. M51 is a beautiful example of a face-on spiral galaxy.

What is the oldest type of galaxy?

Elliptical galaxies, such as M87, are the oldest and roundest galaxies in the universe. Astronomers think these galaxies are formed in major mergers—dramatic collisions between galaxies that result in one massive galaxy being entirely consumed by another.

Does M33 have a black hole?

Unlike many other large galaxies, such as the Milky Way and Andromeda, M33 does not have a supermassive black hole in its center.

What does M33 look like?

Spiral galaxy M33 is located in the triangle-shaped constellation Triangulum, earning it the nickname the Triangulum galaxy. About half the size of our Milky Way galaxy, M33 is the third-largest member of our Local Group of galaxies following the Andromeda galaxy (M31) and the Milky Way.