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Credit & Copyright: Jason Ware
Explanation:
Andromeda is the nearest major galaxy to our
own Milky Way Galaxy.
Our Galaxy is thought to look much like Andromeda.
Together these two galaxies dominate the Local Group
of galaxies.
The diffuse light from Andromeda is caused by the hundreds of billions of
stars
that compose it.
The several distinct stars that surround
Andromeda's image
are actually stars in
our Galaxy
that are well in front of the background object.
Andromeda is frequently referred to as M31 since
it is the 31st object on
Messier's list of diffuse
sky objects.
M31 is so distant it takes about
two million years for light to reach us from there.
Much about
M31 remains unknown,
including why the center contains two nuclei.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Andromeda - M 31
Publications with words: Andromeda - M 31
See also:
- APOD: 2023 November 13 Á Andromeda over the Alps
- The Once and Future Stars of Andromeda
- APOD: 2023 August 23 Á The Meteor and the Galaxy
- NGC 206 and the Star Clouds of Andromeda
- APOD: 2023 March 22 Á M31: The Andromeda Galaxy
- APOD: 2023 January 17 Á Unexpected Clouds Toward the Andromeda Galaxy
- Clouds Around Galaxy Andromeda