Photographer: Chris Martel

This is an 11 x 14″ picture with a fiberboard backing. No frame or hanger included.

Also known as Messier 31 (M31) at 2.5 million light years away this galaxy is the largest major galaxy to our own Milky Way galaxy. The Andromeda galaxy is a spiral galaxy like our Milky Way galaxy but it is also close to 3 times larger than our galaxy at around a trillion stars. In approximately 4 billion years the Andromeda galaxy will merge with our own galaxy to create a new giant elliptical galaxy.

There are two galaxies in this picture located near the Andromeda galaxy The galaxy located underneath Andromeda is a dwarf elliptical galaxy designated as M110. The dwarf elliptical galaxy designated as M32 is located above and very close to the core of Andromeda. It looks like a large slightly elongated star.