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Астронет: Астрономическая картинка дня M31: туманность Андромеды http://variable-stars.ru/db/msg/1162825/eng |
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.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.