Messier 31: Andromeda Galaxy

in #science7 years ago

  The Andromeda Galaxy. Image source: [1]

  The galaxy of Andromeda is also known as MESSIER 31, since it is the Messier catalog number object 31 of fuzzy objects in the sky. It is a super giant spiral of the type Sb with a luminosity that is, apparently, something greater than the one of our galaxy. It is turned towards us so that its main plane constitutes an angle of 15 degrees with the line of sight, that is, it is almost in profile. However, a 15-degree angle is not small enough so that the dusty matter near the main plane of this galaxy can manifest itself as a dark belt. Andromeda is 2.5 million light years from us and is the closest spiral galaxy. 

  Messier 31 is the closest major galaxy to ours, the Milky Way. It is believed that our galaxy looks quite like Andromeda. Together, both galaxies dominate the Local Group of galaxies. The diffused light that comes to us from Andromeda has its origin in the hundreds of billions of stars that form it. The different stars that surround Messier 31.

  The peculiar thing about the Andromeda Galaxy is that it approaches ours, the Milky Way, at a speed of 300 kilometers per second. It is believed that within 3,000 to 5 billion years, both could collide. The planets and stars within each galaxy would not collide, but they would alter the orbits and order within each system.  

  Nima Sh 

  More details here: Messier 31  

  The Andromeda Galaxy as seen by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer. Image source: [2]

  The Andromeda Galaxy pictured in ultraviolet light by GALEX. Image source: [3]

  The Andromeda Galaxy seen in infrared by the Spitzer Space Telescope, one of NASA's four Great Space Observatories. Image source: [4]

  Image of the Andromeda Galaxy taken by Spitzer in infrared, 24 micrometres (Credit:NASA/JPLCaltech/K. Gordon, University of Arizona). Image source: [5]

  Artist's concept of the Andromeda Galaxy core showing a view across a disk of young, blue stars encircling a supermassive black hole. NASA/ESA photo. Image source: [6]

  HubbleESA  


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Excellent post @jonathanxvi. Thanks for sharing!. Regards.

Looking at those pictures of the Andromeda galaxy really does shift your perspective on things. We are tiny. Imagine the vastness of the cosmos. There has got to be life out there somewhere.

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I remember my astronomy teacher back in university talking to us about Andromeda.

Good post, with plenty of references for further studying ;)

Informative post. Thank you :)

My favorite one.
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Awesome photo

Absolutely gorgeous! More pics of galaxies please...to keep things in perspective:). Thank you!