What is Messier 32?
Q: What is Messier 32?
A: Messier 32 is a dwarf "early-type" galaxy located about 2.65 million light-years from Earth and seen in the constellation Andromeda.
Q: Who discovered Messier 32?
A: Messier 32 was discovered by Guillaume Le Gentil in 1749.
Q: What kind of galaxy is Messier 32?
A: Messier 32 is a compact elliptical galaxy type.
Q: How large is Messier 32?
A: Messier 32 measures 6.5 ± 0.2 thousand light-years in diameter at its widest point.
Q: Does Messier 32 have any current star formation?
A: Messier 32 contains mostly older faint red and yellow stars with practically no dust or gas, and consequently no current star formation. However, it does show hints of star formation in the relatively recent past.
Q: What is the half-light radius of the central star cluster in Messier 32?
A: The half-light radius of the central star cluster in Messier 32 is around 6 parsecs, emitting half the light of the central 100 parsecs.
Q: Does Messier 32 contain a supermassive black hole?
A: Yes, Messier 32 contains a supermassive black hole with a mass between 1.5 and 5 million solar masses.
