Find the Andromeda galaxy in autumn
8 comments Print Me Email to FriendTonight is Saturday, Oct 25 2008
The large square pattern on today’s chart is the Great Square in the constellation Pegasus. The constellation Andromeda can be seen as two streams of stars extending from one side of the Square, beginning at the star Alpheratz.
I learned to find the Andromeda galaxy by star-hopping from the Great Square to the two stars marked here – first Mirach, then Mu Andromedae. An imaginary line drawn through these two stars points to the Andromeda galaxy. Just be aware – bright moonlight or city lights can overwhelm the faint glow of this object.
The single most important thing you need to see the galaxy is a very dark sky. Then the Andromeda galaxy appears to the eye as a rather large, fuzzy patch.
One of you wrote, I’ve heard that the Andromeda galaxy will someday collide with our galaxy! Is that still a definite possibility? Actually, ‘definite possibility’ describes much of what we know – or think we know – about the universe. As for the Andromeda galaxy, and its future possible collision with our Milky Way … the first attempt to measure the radial velocity of this galaxy – its motion forward or back, along our line of sight – was made in 1912. After that, astronomers believed for some decades that the galaxy was approaching at nearly 300 kilometers per second, but later astronomers disagreed. Still, most galaxies do show a red shift, which is interpreted as a motion away from us. The Andromeda galaxy shows a blue shift, so it does seem to be moving toward us.
That’s all I’ve read about this, except to point out that the Andromeda Galaxy is 2.2 million light-years away, with a single light-year being almost 10 trillion kilometers. So even if this galaxy were approaching at 300 kilometers per second . . . it’s nothing to lose sleep over.
Somehow I lost the picture that accompanies the daily articles. Is it my computer or your site? Thank you for a reply. Teresa
Has anyone seen a strange light in the sky tonight over london looks like possible meteorite/astroid??? I am not sure as I am a novice of such things
We live in Kansas and around seven in the evening there are two bright stars in the southern sky. One is in the southwest and the other is almost straight south and much higher in the sky. They were the only two stars visible at this time. Can you tell me what these are? Thank you.
We live in Kansas and around seven in the evening there are two bright stars in the southern sky. One is in the southwest and the other is almost straight south and much higher in the sky. They were the only two stars visible at this time. Can you tell me what these are? Thank you.
Good thing I won’t be around for the big crunch when the Andromeda Galaxy collides with the Milky Way Galaxy.
Hi Sally, Those bright stars in the south and southwestern sky weren’t stars at all. They were the planets Jupiter in the south and higher in the sky and Venus in the southwest and lower in the sky.They are good targets for a scope or binoculars.In binoculars you could see the cloud bands on Jupiter and up to 4 of its moons and you could see Venus phased like our Moon It could be a cresent or full. Dennis O’Day
Hello to all! Yes, the two bright lights in the southwest and west are Jupiter (higher up) and Venus (closer to sunset). Over the coming month, these two will be edging closer together! Here’s a sneak peak of what they’ll look like at the end of November:
www.earthsky.org/skywatching/venus-and-jupiter-in-conjunction-on-november-30
Clear skies,
Deborah
I’m so excited! I found an old pair of binoculars (probably 30-40 years old) but good ones. They make all kinds of things “appear” that I don’t see at all w/o them. Last night I found the Orion Nebula in Orion’s Sword. I didn’t even know it was there, but I knew it was a nebula when I spotted it. (I’m such a novice) Tonight I saw a fuzzy patch and thought it might be another nebula but wondered it it might not be a galaxy. Imagine my excitement when I found this page and learned that what I “discovered” was the Andromeda Galaxy! :-D
This is SO much fun. God, I need a real telescope!!!