![]() M32 is a dwarf elliptical galaxy that appears to be a close companion to the Andromeda Galaxy. Its bright glow can easily be seen from any sufficiently dark location. It is so close and so large that is fills an area of the sky equal to four full moons side-by-side. Located about 2.5 million light years from Earth, it is one of the few galaxies that can be seen with the naked eye. In comparison, the Milky Way contains between 200 and 400 billion stars. It is thought to contain over one trillion stars. This is a gigantic spiral galaxy much larger than our own Milky Way. M31, the famous Andromeda Galaxy, dominates the sky here. ![]() Located 355 lights years from us, it is an orange giant nearly 2,000 times more luminous than the Sun.Īndromeda contains three Messier objects. Almach is the third brightest star with a magnitude of 2.26. It is a Red giant located approximately 200 light years from Earth. Another star named Mirach has nearly the same magnitude as Alpheratz. It is a binary star system with a combined visual magnitude of 2.07. Perseus and Andromeda were later married and had six children, including Perses, who was the ancestor of the Persians.Īndromeda contains several stars brighter than magnitude 4. She was saved by Perseus when he turned Cetus to stone by using the dismembered head of the gorgon Medusa. Andromeda was chained to a rock as a sacrifice to the sea monster Cetus. It represents the daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia, the king and queen of Ethiopia. It is bordered by Perseus, Cassiopeia, Lacerta, Pegasus, Pisces, and Triangulum.Īndromeda is one of the original 48 constellations listed by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the second century. In fact, it is the 19th largest constellation in the night sky. Andromeda is a large constellation, covering 722 square degrees of the sky. It is below the horizon for anyone south of latitude -40 degrees. It can be seen and in the southern hemisphere in November. The constellation Andromeda, Princess of Ethiopia, is visible in the northern hemisphere from August through January. Visible Between Latitudes: 90 and -40 degrees
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