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Credit & Copyright: Cristian Fattinnanzi  
  
   
Explanation:
How far can you see?  
  
The  
Andromeda Galaxy 2.5 million light years away is the most distant  
object easily seen by the unaided eye.  
  
Other apparent denizens of the night sky, stars, clusters, and nebulae,  
typically range from a few hundred to a few thousand light-years  
away and lie well within  
our own Milky Way Galaxy.  
  
Also known as M31, the  
Andromeda  
Galaxy is the faint smudge near top center of this Earth and skyscape,  
taken from eastern Italy, near Monte Conero on the Adriatic sea coast.  
  
From a few centimeters  
to a few million light-years,  
the picture demonstrates a stunning range of vision.  
  
Though galaxy and  
seaside rocks could be seen with the eye on that  
clear summer night, no camera captured this view in a single exposure.  
  
Because the stars trailed  
above the horizon while the picture was made,  
separate exposures tracking the stars were combined  
with one of rocks and cliffs made with the camera steadied  
to create the tantalizing scene.  
  
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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
  