Loading Messier 31

Andromeda Galaxy

Designation:
M31
Object Type:
Barred Spiral Galaxy
Right Ascension:
0h 43m
Declination:
+41° 16'
Magnitude:
3.4
Distance:
2,537,000 light years
Constellation:
Andromeda
Capture Date:
December 9, 2020

Image Source: James Crouch / Frosty Drew Observatory

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Photos of M31:

Articles about M31:

Celebration of Space - September 27, 2024

Over the past week, Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (Comet A3), has continued to brighten, and as of this morning (September 27, 2024), the comet is visible to the naked eye in the predawn sky. Of course, not for us in Southern New England, b ... more

Celebration of Space - November 11, 2022

Tonight is Stargazing Night at Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center, and the forecast for heavy rain and high winds will keep us closed tonight. We will usually host a cloudy night program on nights with inclement weather, though the remn ... more

Celebration of Space - September 2, 2022

A Change is Happening to our Stargazing Nights Events:
Starting next Friday, September 9, 2022, and continuing into the New Year, our weekly Stargazing Nights events will require ticketed registration for visitors to gain access to ... more

Celebration of Space - September 3, 2021

On Sunday, September 5, 2021, Venus and the bright blue star Spica, which is the brightest star in the constellation Virgo, will put on a fantastic conjunction, which has been building up over the past few nights. Spica, also known as Alpha Vir ... more

Celebration of Space - September 27, 2019

Now that autumn is upon us, that summertime view of the night sky, the one that shows off the fabulous view of the Milky Way Galactic Nucleus, is beginning to fade off into the western horizon early in the night. Though bright views of the Milk ... more

Celebration of Space - August 30, 2019

Hey K-12 teachers and educators, did you know that your students have a chance to name the Mars 2020 rover? Starting this past Wednesday, August 28, 2019, the contest to name the Mars 2020 rover is on. Until November 1, 2019, each student in yo ... more

Andromeda, the Chained Lady

I’m sure many of you can recognize more than just a handful of constellations. Even in moderately light polluted skies a knowledgeable observer can easily locate and identify Ursa Major (Big Dipper asterism), Orion or Scorpius. Many of our no ... more