Messier 110
Located in the constellation Andromeda can be found M31, the famous Andromeda Galaxy. This spectacular object is a spiral galaxy similar to our own Milky Way. At a distance of only 2 million light years, it is one of the closest galaxies to our own. Its enormous diameter of 200,000 light years gives it a visual magnitude of 3.4, making it the brightest galaxy in the sky and the only galaxy visible to the naked eye. It can easily be seen with binoculars, and telescopes will bring out some of the galaxy's detail.
Projections indicate that the Andromeda Galaxy is on a collision course with the Milky Way (our own galaxy if you didn't know that), approaching at a speed of about 140 kilometres per second. Impact is predicted in about 3 billion years; the two galaxies will probably merge to form a giant elliptical.
Messier 110
Located in the constellation Andromeda can be found M31, the famous Andromeda Galaxy. This spectacular object is a spiral galaxy similar to our own Milky Way. At a distance of only 2 million light years, it is one of the closest galaxies to our own. Its enormous diameter of 200,000 light years gives it a visual magnitude of 3.4, making it the brightest galaxy in the sky and the only galaxy visible to the naked eye. It can easily be seen with binoculars, and telescopes will bring out some of the galaxy's detail.
Projections indicate that the Andromeda Galaxy is on a collision course with the Milky Way (our own galaxy if you didn't know that), approaching at a speed of about 140 kilometres per second. Impact is predicted in about 3 billion years; the two galaxies will probably merge to form a giant elliptical.