Andromeda galaxy lets you glimpse deep space
3 comments Print Me Email to FriendTonight is Thursday, Oct 09 2008
You can spot the most distant object visible to the unaided eye – the Andromeda galaxy – on any autumn evening. This galaxy is also known as M31, and it’s the next-nearest galaxy to our Milky Way.
To help you locate it — here is a view of the constellation Andromeda the Princess — as well as the Great Square in the constellation Pegasus the Flying Horse. The constellations Pegasus and Andromeda share a star (officially it belongs to Andromeda) – the star Alpheratz – which marks one corner of the Great Square. The rest of the constellation Andromeda extends in two graceful streams of stars from Alpheratz.
And once you find the constellation Andromeda, finding the Andromeda galaxy isn’t difficult, if you have a clear, dark country sky. It isn’t hard, because the galaxy is bright enough to see with the eye! If you need help spotting it, though, try looking for the stars Mirach and Mu Andromedae, which are the second stars outward from Alpheratz. A line between Mirach and Mu Andromedae points to the Andromeda galaxy.
The Andromeda galaxy is a large spiral galaxy, thought to be similar in appearance to our own Milky Way. Modern distance estimates place it over two million light-years away.
Good thing I won’t be around for “The Big Crunch” when Andromeda Galaxy crashes in on the Milky Way Galaxy.
Deborah, thank you! I have noticed the Great Square for the past 3 nights & was hoping you would talk about it. Now tonight when I go skywatching I will know what I’m looking at & what to look for. Can’t wait! Thanks again!!
Can the Hubble Telescope reach distances far beyond Andromeda Galaxy? And if so how far, does it take time for these images to be seen. I mean there light to reach us. And does the darkness at the poles help in capturing them on film, or digitally? As we move away from the center of the Universe are there distant new Stars becoming more visible. Are we going to one day have a totally different night sky to look at in the distance because of the Galaxy traveling through space. And do you know how fast or slow are Milky Way Galaxy travels? Lot of questions again. oceanwalker.