Close-up: The Triangulum Galaxy | ESO

Close-up: The Triangulum Galaxy | ESO

This picture is a closeup of the nearby Triangulum Galaxy, also known as Messier 33, located about 3 million light-years away. This image, taken with the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT), reveals the range and complexity of the gas and dust between stars in great detail.

Stars are not, as is often imagined, isolated spheres in the dark, but rather live in rich and complex environments that they shape. Studying these surrounding areas tells us how stars can form, and how their radiation can affect nearby material, improving our understanding of how galaxies evolve.

The image was presented in a new study led by Anna Feltre, a postdoctoral researcher at the INAF-Astrophysical Observatory of Arcetri, Italy. The team used data taken with the Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) instrument at the VLT. MUSE’s breaks up the light into a full set of colors, allowing the team to examine the chemical composition of the interstellar matter across its field of view.

The colors represent distinct elements. Blue, green and red indicate the presence of oxygen, hydrogen and sulphur, respectively. MUSE allowed the team to map the distribution of many other elements, as well as their motion. This is key to understanding the link between stars and their surroundings. Feltre stated: “This cosmic interplay produces a spectacular and dynamic landscape, revealing that the birthplaces of stars are far more beautiful and complex than we ever imagined.”

Credit: ESO/A. Feltre, F. Belfiore, G. Cresci et al.
Release Date: March 23, 2026

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