Elliptical Galaxy M-32 (NGC 221)

This is a 8 minute exposure with an ST-6 CCD camera thru Kopernik's 20-inch telescope. By using a focal reducing lens we cut the normal F/8.1 focal ratio down to F/4.9. The field of view is about 9x12.5 arc minutes, with north at the top.

Binoculars show M-32 as a fuzzy 9th magnitude "star" just to the south of the central mass of M-31. Messier said that it was first seen by Le Gentil in 1749.

M-32 is an elliptical galaxy like the other companions M-31. The total mass of M 32 is about 3 billion solar masses and its diameter is about 8,000 light-years. Although probably formed at the same time as M 31, M-32 is at a much later stage of development. It appears to have lost most, if not all, of its interstellar gas and dust, after having passed more than once through the disc of the larger galaxy.

Quote from the Deep Sky Field Guide to Uranometria 2000:

Satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy, M-31.

• M-32, NGC 221
• Magnitude: 9.1
• Constellation: Andromeda
• RA: 00h 42m 41.8s
• Dec: +40d 51' 55" Epoch 2000
• Size (mins): 8.8 x 6.5
• Classification: cE2
                          Compact Elliptical
  
  

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George Normandin, KAS

December 28th, 1997