M32 , the compact elliptical-galaxy companion to the Andromeda spiral galaxy has been imaged by the Galaxy Evolution Explorer ( GALEX ) in two ultraviolet bands , centered at \sim 1500 ( FUV ) and 2300 Å ( NUV ) .
The imaging data have been carefully decomposed so as to properly account for the complicated background contamination from the disk of M31 .
We have derived the surface brightness and color profiles finding a slightly positive color gradient of \Delta ( FUV – B ) / \Delta \log ( r ) = + 0.15 \pm 0.03 within one effective radius .
Earlier data from the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope suggested that M32 had an extremely large ( negative ) FUV-optical color gradient ( \Delta ( FUV – B ) / \Delta \log ( r ) < - 2 ) , inverted with respect to the majority of gradients seen in giant elliptical galaxies .
Our new results show that , despite of its very low UV-upturn , M32 has similar UV properties to those observed in luminous elliptical galaxies .