Messier 32, also known as Le Gentil, is a satellite galaxy of the famous Andromeda Galaxy (M31). It is a compact elliptical galaxy, spanning only about 6,500 light-years at its widest point. M32 contains mostly older faint red and yellow stars with practically no gas or dust, resulting in no current star formation. Despite its small size, M32 is one of the brightest dwarf elliptical galaxies known, making it a popular target for amateur astrophotographers.
Names and Catalog numbers
– Messier 32 (M32)
– NGC 221
– UGC 452
Position and the cosmic neighborhood
Messier 32 is easily located due to its close proximity to the much larger Andromeda Galaxy. It appears as a small, bright patch near the core of M31. M32 is one of Andromeda’s 14 known satellite galaxies and one of the two brightest ones, the other being Messier 110. The galaxy can be found by first locating the Great Square of Pegasus and then following a line from Alpheratz through Mirach in the constellation Andromeda.
Nice to Know
1. M32 is a prototype for a class of galaxies known as compact ellipticals.
2. It is believed to have once been a spiral galaxy before its interaction with Andromeda stripped away its outer regions.
3. The galaxy was first resolved into individual stars by Walter Baade in 1944 using the 100-inch telescope at Mount Wilson Observatory.
4. M32 shows hints of star formation in the relatively recent past, unlike most elliptical galaxies.
Brightness, distance and size
Messier 32 has an apparent magnitude of 8.08, making it visible in small telescopes and even binoculars under dark sky conditions. Located approximately 2.49 million light-years away, it spans about 6,500 light-years in diameter. In the night sky, M32 appears to cover an area of 8.7 by 6.5 arcminutes, appearing as a small, diffuse ball of light with a bright core when viewed through amateur telescopes.