July 21, 1998
Consider this: the iron in your blood was forged in a supernova explosion billions of years ago.
Nearby Spiral M33
Birthday · July 21, 1998
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APOD published July 21, 1998. Credit: D. Malin (AAO), IAC, RGO, Isaac Newton Telescope. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.
M33 is a prominent nearby spiral galaxy. Nicknamed the Triangulum, M33 is one of the larger members of the Local Group of Galaxies. Two massive spiral galaxies dominate the Local Group: M31 and our Milky Way Galaxy. M33 is the only other spiral galaxy known in the Local Group. At 3 million light-years, M33 is the second closest spiral galaxy. M33 is thought by some to be a satellite galaxy to massive M31. M33 is close enough to appear twice the angular size of the full moon, when viewed with binoculars. Globular clusters in M33's halo appear unusual and might be much younger than globular clusters in our Galaxy's halo.
Image credit: D. Malin (AAO), IAC, RGO, Isaac Newton Telescope