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Old 24-10-2009, 11:34 PM
ausastronomer (John Bambury)
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Shoalhaven Heads, NSW
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rod66 View Post
Good powerpoint. Why does he refer to M33 as the easiest galaxy to resolve outside the magellanic clouds? I would have thought M31 and NGC253 far easier to see than M33...?
They are easier to see, but it is harder to see detail within them, which is what "resolving them" refers to. NGC 604 which is a massive HII region within M33 can be seen in a scope as small as 3" to 4". Whilst M31 and NGC 253 are easier to see, you can't resolve detail in them with a scope that small.

In a 10" or 12" scope you can see an enormous amount of detail in M33, if your skies are dark enough.

Cheers,
John B
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