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Credit & Copyright: Robert Gendler
Explanation:
This
remarkable synthetic color composite image was assembled from
archives of visible light and infrared astronomy image data.
The field of view spans the Andromeda Galaxy (M31), a massive spiral
a mere 2.5 million light-years away.
In fact, with over twice the diameter of
our own Milky Way,
Andromeda is
the largest nearby galaxy.
Andromeda's population of bright young blue stars lie along its sweeping
spiral arms, with the telltale reddish glow of star forming regions
traced in space- and ground-based
visible light data.
But infrared data from the Spitzer
Space Telescope, also blended directly into the detailed composite's
red and green color channels, highlight the
the lumpy dust lanes warmed by the young stars
as they wind even closer to the
galaxy's core.
Otherwise invisible at optical wavelengths, the warm dust takes
on orange hues.
Two smaller companion galaxies,
M110 (below) and
M32 (above) are also included in the frame.
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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: 2024 September 8 Á M31: The Andromeda Galaxy
- 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