This galaxy, called M33, lies in the constellation of Triangulum. It is known more commonly as the Triangulum Galaxy or the Pinwheel Galaxy. It's over 50,000 light years across, making it the third largest galaxy in the Local Group (a collection of galaxies relatively close to our own), after the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) and the Milky Way. An interesting fact about the Triangulum Galaxy is that it is thought to be a satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy, in that it appears to revolve around the Andromeda Galaxy. Pretty hard to imagine an entire galaxy orbiting a whole other galaxy, eh? Also, that bright pink spot near the lower right is NGC 604, the brightest star forming region in the Triangulum Galaxy. The galaxy is actually a fairly important astronomical tool as well. Because of the measurements we have made of its variable stars, we can use it to measure distances across the cosmos.
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