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M32
elliptical galaxy in Andromeda
M32 is a small, compact elliptical galaxy that orbits the Andromeda Galaxy and appears just beside its disc. It is very bright for its size, with a dense, star-rich core, and is almost always captured as part of a wider M31 image.
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// Key facts
- Catalog
- M32
- Type
- elliptical galaxy
- Constellation
- Andromeda
- Size
- 8′ across
- Brightness
- Magnitude 8.1
- Distance
- about 2.5 million light-years
- Peak month (any location)
- Sep
- Typical prime months
- Jul to Dec
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Filter
- No filter (broadband); a light-pollution filter is optional
Pick a saved location or share your device location. Your coordinates are used only to calculate tonight and are not stored. To save locations, use the planner.
How to image M32
- It is only 8 arcminutes across, so it is most often photographed as part of M31. A close-up needs 1,500 mm or more.
- The core is bright, so use shorter exposures to keep the detail.
- It rides the same autumn sky as M31 and is best from northern latitudes.
Framing: what focal length?
M32 is small, so a "60% of the frame" focal length would be impractical. Here is how much of an APS-C frame it covers at common long focal lengths; expect to crop.
| Focal length | Share of the frame width |
|---|---|
| 1,000 mm | about 10% |
| 2,000 mm | about 20% |
| 3,000 mm | about 30% |
How high does it climb from your latitude?
The highest point M32 reaches in the sky. Above about 60° is excellent, 30° to 60° is workable, and under 30° you are looking through a lot of air.
| Latitude | Highest point | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 55°N (Scotland, Alaska) | 76° | High in the sky |
| 45°N (Minneapolis, Milan) | 86° | High in the sky |
| 35°N (Los Angeles, Tokyo) | 84° | High in the sky |
| 25°N (Miami, Cairo) | 74° | High in the sky |
| 35°S (Sydney, Santiago) | 14° | Stays low |
Also worth imaging
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