Messier 31, also known as the Andromeda Galaxy, is the nearest spiral galaxy to our Milky Way and one of the most prominent objects in the night sky. Located about 2.5 million light-years from Earth, it is part of the Local Group, a small collection of galaxies that includes the Milky Way and the Triangulum Galaxy (M33). With a diameter of around 220,000 light-years, Andromeda is significantly larger than the Milky Way and contains over a trillion stars.
The galaxy is easily visible to the naked eye in the Northern Hemisphere on clear, dark nights, appearing as a faint, smudgy patch in the constellation Andromeda. Messier 31 is notable for its spiral structure, which features vast, swirling arms filled with stars, dust, and gas, and a bright, densely packed central bulge. It also has several satellite galaxies, such as M32 and M110, which orbit around it.
One of the most important aspects of Andromeda is its future collision with the Milky Way. Due to their mutual gravitational attraction, the two galaxies are on a collision course and will merge in about 4 to 5 billion years, forming a single, massive galaxy. Studying Messier 31 helps astronomers understand galaxy formation and evolution, as it provides a glimpse into what could happen to the Milky Way in the distant future.
Messier 31 serves as an important object of study for both amateur astronomers and professionals, offering insights into the behavior of large galaxies and their interactions within the universe.
Capture Details:
Telescope: William Optics Z73
Reducer/Flattener: William Optics Flat6aiii
Filter: Optolong L-Pro Optolong L-Extreme
Camera: ZWO ASI183MC Pro
Mount: Skywatcher EQM-35 Pro
Total Captured: 124 x 180 Optolong L-Extreme 259 x 145 (average, various exp times) Optolong L-Pro
Total Time: 16 hours 39 minutes
Capture Software: N.I.N.A.
Guiding: PHD2, ZWO asi120mm mini
Processed in: PixInsight
Additional details on Astrobin.com.