Tuesdays, November 5, 2024

The Andromeda Galaxy (all night)

On November evenings, the Andromeda Galaxy is positioned very high in the eastern sky. This large spiral galaxy, also designated Messier 31 (or M31) and NGC 224, is located 2.5 million light years from us, and covers an area of sky measuring 3 by 1 degrees - corresponding to six by two full moon diameters! In a dark sky, M31 can be seen with your unaided eyes as a sizeable faint smudge located 14 degrees to the northeast of Alpheratz, the star that occupies the northeastern corner of the Great Square of Pegasus. The three higher (westernmost) stars of Cassiopeia, named Caph, Shedar, and Gamma Cas, also conveniently form an arrow that points towards M31. Binoculars give the best views of the entire galaxy. In a backyard telescope, use your lowest magnification eyepiece and look for M31's two smaller companion galaxies - the foreground, brighter Messier 32 and the more distant, fainter Messier 110.

(Data courtesy of Starry Night)
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