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Credit & Copyright: R. Gendler &
R. Croman
Explanation:
The most distant object easily visible to the unaided eye is
M31,
the great Andromeda Galaxy.
Even at some two and a half million
light-years distant,
this immense spiral galaxy -- spanning over
200,000 light years -- is visible, although as a faint, nebulous cloud in the
constellation
Andromeda.
A bright yellow nucleus, dark winding
dust lanes, and
expansive spiral arms dotted with
blue star clusters and
red nebulae,
are recorded in
this stunning telescopic image
which combines data from
orbiting Hubble with ground-based images from
Subaru and
Mayall.
In only about 5 billion years, the Andromeda galaxy may be even
easier to see -- as it will likely span the
entire night sky -- just before it
merges with, or
passes
right by, our
Milky Way Galaxy.
Teachers & Students:
Ideas for using APOD in the classroom
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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 galaxy - M 31
Publications with words: Andromeda galaxy - M 31
See also:
- NGC 206 and the Star Clouds of Andromeda
- 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