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Credit & Copyright: Stefan Ziegenbalg
Explanation:
What surrounds the Andromeda galaxy?
Out in space, Andromeda (M31) is closely surrounded by several small
satellite galaxies, and further out it is part of the
Local Group of Galaxies -- of which our Milky Way galaxy is also a member.
On the sky, however, gas clouds local to
our Milky Way appear to surround M31 --
not unlike how water clouds in
Earth's atmosphere may appear to
encompass our Moon.
The gas clouds toward Andromeda,
however, are usually too faint to see.
Enter the
featured 45-degree long image
-- one of the deeper images yet taken of the
broader Andromeda region.
This image, sensitive to light specifically
emitted by hydrogen gas, shows these faint and unfamiliar clouds in
tremendous
detail.
But the image captures more.
At the image top is the
Triangulum galaxy (M33),
the third largest galaxy in the
Local Group and the furthest object that can be seen with the unaided eye.
Below M33 is the bright Milky-Way star
Mirach.
The image is the digital accumulation of
several long exposures taken from 2018 to 2021 from
Pulsnitz,
Germany.
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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:
- 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