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The Andromeda Galaxy (M31)

by

Tom Davis/Novapix

Reference

a-gax02-24034

Date

2009-12-01

Andromeda is the nearest major galaxy to our own Milky Way Galaxy. M31 is about 2.3 millions light years far from us in the constellation Andromeda. It is the biggest member in our Local Group. Its diameter is more than 150,000 light years, compared to the Milky Way's 100,000 light years. M31 has two satellite galaxies: M110 (NGC 205) the elliptic galaxy at bottom and M32 (NGC 221), the bright star-like object at upper left of the nucleus.