Messier 31 is the Great Galaxy in Andromeda. This galaxy is a gigantic collection of more than 300 billion stars that is located 2.5 million light-years from Earth.

Companion dwarf elliptical galaxies M32 (NGC 221) and M110 (NGC 205) are also visible, as well as NGC 206, a stellar association inside of M31. Hold your mouse cursor over the image to see these identifications.

M31 and its companions are part of our local group of galaxies, which includes the Milky Way, the Magellanic Clouds, and M33.

M31 may be heading towards our Milky Way Galaxy and might collide with it and possibly merge into a gigantic elliptical galaxy in 3 billion years.

The Andromeda Galaxy is quite large, covering more than 3 square degrees of sky although the brightest part that is recorded in most photos is not this large. This image, for example, is 1.6 x 1 degrees.

M31 is bright enough to easily be seen with the unaided eye from a dark-sky observing site, but as with any other deep-sky object, its visibility can be drastically reduced by light pollution.

North is to the right in the above image.

Messier 31 Catalogs: M31, NGC 224 Common Name:Andromeda Galaxy Object Type: Sb Spiral Galaxy Magnitude: 3.4v Size: 190' x 62' Constellation: Andromeda Object Centered At: RA: 0h 42m 42s Dec: +41° 16' 00" Messier 32 Catalogs: M32, NGC 221 Common Name:Andromeda Galaxy Object Type: E2 Ellipitcal Galaxy Magnitude: 8.1v Size: 8.5' x 6.5' Constellation: Andromeda Object Coordinates: RA: 0h 42m 42s Dec: +40° 51' 60" Messier 110 Catalogs: M110, NGC 205 Common Name:Andromeda Galaxy Object Type: E5 Elliptical Galaxy Magnitude: 7.9v Size: 19.5' x 11.5' Constellation: Andromeda Object Coordinates: RA: 0h 40m 24s Dec: +41° 41' 00"