deep-sky
galaxy (spiral)
M31 – Andromeda Galaxy
The latest image of M31, better known as The (Great) Andromeda Galaxy.
Located in the constellation Andromeda, it is our closest (normal) galaxy companion at a distance of 2.5 million light years.
The Andromeda Galaxy is the largest galaxy of the Local Group, which also contains our own Milky Way, the Triangulum Galaxy (M33), and about 50 other smaller galaxies.
In a reasonably dark location it is possible to see this galaxy with the naked eye.
The 2 bright objects are 2 companion galaxies, M32 (above) and M110 (below).
Other / older versions :
Image information:
Object info
Name: M31 – The Andromeda Galaxy
Type: Galaxy (spiral)
Constellation: Andromeda
Distance: 2.5 Mly
Date & location
Date: October 8, 2010
Location: Landgraaf, The Netherlands
Equipment & optics
Total integration: 3h
Camera: SBIG ST-8300M
Optics: TMB/LOMO 80/480
Mount: Losmandy G-11 Gemini
Image comments
Monochrome images of the ST8300M were combined with 5h of DSLR color data of the previous image taken in 2008.
Lots of noise and gradients in the DSLR color image !
