M33, or the 'triangulum galaxy', is the thrid largest of the local group of galaxies and lies at a distance of just under 3 million light years from us.

It is estimated to contain about 40-50 billion stars, as compared to 100-400 billion for the milky way, and 1000 billion for M31. Its diameter is about 50,000 light years, about half that of the milky way.

Click on image below for full size version

 

Telescope. William OpticS ZS80FD

Camera. Atik 16HR

Luminance. 24 X 6 minutes
Red, Green & Blue. 13 x 6 minutes binned 2x2
Hydrogen alpha. 5 x 6 minutes

L & Ha-26th Sept & 7th Oct 2008
RGB 26th Sept 2008