M31: The Andromeda Galaxy

M31: The Andromeda Galaxy

Image Credit:
Subaru
(NAOJ),
Hubble
(NASA/ESA),
Mayall
(NSF);

Processing & 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.