ANDROMEDA | celestial

ANDROMEDA GALAXY

The Andromeda galaxy, our Milky Way's closest neighbor, is the most faraway object in the sky that you can see with your unassisted eye — but only on a clear night from a location with a very dark sky. The galaxy is a aesthetic spiral, but one fact you may not be aware of: We’re safe for a few billion years, but Andromeda is blocking our way and on a collision course with the Milky Way.

Andromeda's close proximity to Earth — at only 2.5 million light-years away — makes it a reachable target to observe for extrapolations about other spiral galaxies. In recent years, scientists have done detailed studies of black holes, stars and other objects within the galaxy. This included a stunning mosaic of Andromeda galaxy images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2015.

ANDROMEDA GALAXY PROFILE

Designation: M31 or NGC 224

Type: Spiral

Diameter: 220,000 ly

Distance: 2.54 Mly

Mass: 1,230 billion M☉

Number of Stars: 1trillion

Constellation: Andromeda

Group: Local Group

WANT MORE ABOUT ANDROMEDA GALAXY?

Andromeda has a double nucleus. At the very center or the core of the galaxy is a massive cluster of stars. But at the core, there is also at least one super-massive black hole.
The Andromeda is headed towards Milky Way at a speed of 100-140 kilometers per second.
Scientists estimate that Andromeda will clash with Milky Way in nearly 4 billion years.
The Andromeda Galaxy gets its name from the area in which it appears, the constellation of Andromeda – which is named for the after the mythological Greek princess Andromeda.
In approximately 3.75 billion years, the Andromeda and Milky Way galaxies will collide, merging to form a giant elliptical galaxy.
A 2006 study put the Milky Way at around 80% the mass of the Andromeda Galaxy.
Scientists estimate that there are 1 trillion stars in the galaxy.

While Andromeda is the largest galaxy in the Local Cluster it may not be the most massive. The Milky Way is thought to contain more dark matter, which could make it much more massive.
Since it is the nearest spiral galaxy to us, astronomers use the Andromeda Galaxy to understand the origin and evolution of such galaxies.
The Andromeda Galaxy is approaching the Milky Way at approximately 100 to 140 kilometers per second.
The Andromeda Galaxy has at least two spiral arms, plus a ring of dust that may have come from the smaller galaxy M32. Astronomers think that it may have interacted more closely with Andromeda several hundred million years ago, when M32 plunged through the heart of its larger neighbor.
The Andromeda Galaxy is the most distant object you can spot with the naked eye. You need a good spot away from bright lights in order to see it.

Back to Galaxy Page

ANDROMEDA GALAXY

ANDROMEDA GALAXY PROFILE

Designation: M31 or NGC 224

WANT MORE ABOUT ANDROMEDA GALAXY?

Andromeda has a double nucleus. At the very center or the core of the galaxy is a massive cluster of stars. But at the core, there is also at least one super-massive black hole.

While Andromeda is the largest galaxy in the Local Cluster it may not be the most massive. The Milky Way is thought to contain more dark matter, which could make it much more massive.

Since it is the nearest spiral galaxy to us, astronomers use the Andromeda Galaxy to understand the origin and evolution of such galaxies.

The Andromeda Galaxy is approaching the Milky Way at approximately 100 to 140 kilometers per second.

The Andromeda Galaxy has at least two spiral arms, plus a ring of dust that may have come from the smaller galaxy M32. Astronomers think that it may have interacted more closely with Andromeda several hundred million years ago, when M32 plunged through the heart of its larger neighbor.

The Andromeda Galaxy is the most distant object you can spot with the naked eye. You need a good spot away from bright lights in order to see it.