Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Andromeda (And)  ·  Contains:  Andromeda Galaxy  ·  M 110  ·  M 31  ·  M 32  ·  NGC 205  ·  NGC 221  ·  NGC 224
Andromeda Galaxy (M31), Chris Morisette
Andromeda Galaxy (M31)
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Andromeda Galaxy (M31)

Andromeda Galaxy (M31), Chris Morisette
Andromeda Galaxy (M31)
Powered byPixInsight

Andromeda Galaxy (M31)

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Description

The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is the closest spiral galaxy to our own Milky Way. Located in the constellation of Andromeda this galaxy is approximately 2.5 million light-years away from Earth and measures about 131,000 light-years across. Andromeda was long thought to be a nearby nebula, however a great debate occurred in the early 20th century as to whether M31 was actually a nebula or an “island universe”. Edwin Hubble settled the argument by proving that this object lies far beyond the Milky Way and was in fact a separate galaxy.

Pictured with Andromeda are two companion galaxies. M32 is located at about 9 o’clock and M110 is located at about 5 o’clock from the center of M31. Computer simulations show that M32 passed through the disk of Andromeda. This interaction is probably responsible for the disturbance to the spiral structure. Andromeda is moving toward us at a speed of about 100 km/sec and will collide with the Milky Way Galaxy in about 2.5 billion years.

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Andromeda Galaxy (M31), Chris Morisette