Wide-field view of the Andromeda Galaxy
This ground-based image shows the full extent of the Andromeda Galaxy, also known as Messier 31 or M 31. The Andromeda Galaxy appears very large in the sky — several times the size of the full Moon (although much fainter). Hubble is designed to make highly detailed observations of much smaller patches of sky: the space telescope’s observations of the Andromeda Galaxy show individual stars and clusters rather than the broad spiral structure visible here. Wide-field images like this one give a broad overview.
Credit:
ESA/Hubble & Digitized Sky Survey 2. Acknowledgment: Davide De Martin (ESA/Hubble)
About the Image
| Id: | heic1112f |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 21 July 2011, 10:00 |
| Related releases: | heic1112 |
| Size: | 21299 x 13775 px |
About the Object
| Name: | Andromeda Galaxy, Messier 31 |
| Type: | • Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Spiral • Galaxies Images/Videos |
| Distance: | 2 million light years |
Colours & filters
| Band | Telescope |
| Optical B |
DSS |
| Optical R |
DSS |
