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Credit & Copyright: Howard Trottier
Explanation:
The large stellar association cataloged as
NGC 206 is
nestled within the dusty arms of the neighboring
Andromeda galaxy
along with the galaxy's pinkish star-forming regions.
Also known as M31,
the
spiral galaxy is a mere
2.5 million light-years away.
NGC 206 is found right of center in
this sharp and detailed close-up of
the southwestern
extent of
Andromeda's disk.
The bright, blue
stars of NGC 206
indicate its youth.
In fact, its youngest massive stars are less than 10 million years old.
Much larger than the open or galactic clusters of young stars
in the disk of our Milky Way galaxy,
NGC 206
spans about 4,000 light-years.
That's comparable in size to the giant stellar nurseries
NGC 604 in nearby spiral
M33 and the
Tarantula Nebula
in the Large Magellanic Cloud.
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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: M 31 - Andromeda galaxy
Publications with words: M 31 - Andromeda galaxy
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
- APOD: 2023 March 22 Á M31: The Andromeda Galaxy
- APOD: 2023 January 17 Á Unexpected Clouds Toward the Andromeda Galaxy
- Clouds Around Galaxy Andromeda
- Andromeda in Southern Skies