On Sunday, the US space agency NASA shared the "largest" Andromeda galaxy photo taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. The image was taken seven years ago and is the sharpest large composite image of our galactic neighbor ever taken.
NASA said the photo shows a 48,000 light-year stretch of the Andromeda galaxy. There are more than 100 million stars in view. The panoramic photo is divided into three segments in the Instagram post. The final part of the Andromeda galaxy photo shows a band of blue stars with countless stars scattered throughout the image.
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| Photo shows the 48,000-light-year-long stretch of the Andromeda galaxy. |
"This photo of Andromeda Galaxy is split into 3 images. The first photo displays a bright spot emanating from the lower left of the Andromeda galaxy with bands extending in all sides. The light in the upper quarter of the image fades to primarily black and patchy blue space with countless stars. In the second image the light is scattered by bands of purple and blue that give way to the darkness of space,” NASA wrote in the caption.
Ever since the picture was shared, it has left netizens mesmerized. It has gained more than ten lakh likes. One user wrote: "It's extremely beautiful." Another said: "It's phenomenal." "Absolutely unbelievable," commented a third.
The American space agency described that because the Andromeda galaxy lies 2.5 million light-years away. So, thousands of star clusters can be identified. NASA has reported that our Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies are similar in size and shape.
Notably, the image was first released in 2015 and was shared again on 31, July 2022. It shows a 48,000-light-year stretch of the galaxy in its "natural visible light color," NASA said. "Because the galaxy is only 2.5 million light-years away from Earth. It is a much larger target in the sky than the countless galaxies. Hubble routinely captures that are billions of light-years away," NASA described.
NASA described it in a statement: “This stunning bird's-eye view of part of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is the sharpest large composite image ever taken of our galactic neighbor. In spite of the fact that the galaxy is over 2 million light-years away. the Hubble Space Telescope is powerful enough to distinguish individual stars in a 61,000-light-year-long slice of the pancake-shaped galactic disk."
NASA further explained that: This ambitious photographic cartography of the Andromeda galaxy represents a new benchmark for precise studies of the large spiral galaxies that dominate the universe's population of more than 100 billion galaxies. Never before have astronomers been able to see individual stars within the outer spiral galaxy over such a large continuous area.
Most of our universe's stars live inside such great star cities. And this is the first data to reveal star populations in the context of their home galaxy." NASA explores our solar system and beyond to understand the universe and our place in it. We are trying to uncover the secrets of our universe, its origin and evolution, and we are looking for life among the stars.
More About Andromeda galaxy
The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is a spiral galaxy located about 2.5 million light-years away from Earth in the constellation of Ursa Major. Its name comes from Greek mythology, where Andromeda was chained to a rock after being raped by Poseidon. The Andromeda Galaxy is the nearest major neighbor galaxy to our own Milky Way Galaxy. M31 is classified as a type Ia supernova remnant. Its diameter is approximately 1,500 light-years across. It is the largest member of the Local Group of galaxies.
Andromeda Nebula
The Andromeda Nebula (NGC 224), also known as Messier Object 31, is a planetary nebula in the constellation Andromeda. It was discovered by Charles Messier on April 18th 1779. We can see this with the naked eye under dark skies.
Andromeda Galaxy Cluster
The Andromeda Galaxy Cluster (also called NGC 247) is a group of at least 50 galaxies in the constellation Andromeda. The cluster is estimated to have been formed between 600 and 800 million years ago.
Andromeda Galaxy Supercluster
The Andromeda Galaxy Supercluster is a massive supercluster of galaxies in the constellation Andromeda containing over 100 members. It is believed to be the largest structure in the universe.
Andromeda Galaxy Stream
The Andromeda Galaxy Stream (also called NGC 253) is a stream of stars and gas extending out from the center of the Andromeda Galaxy. It is thought to be a tidal tail created by the interaction of the Andromeda Galaxy with its neighboring galaxy, the Triangulum Galaxy.
Andromeda Galaxy Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies
The Andromeda Galaxy Dwarf Spherodial Galaxies are dwarf spheroidal galaxies orbiting the Andromeda Galaxy. These three galaxies are among the closest satellite galaxies to the Milky Way.
Andromeda Galaxy Spiral Arms
The Andromeda Galaxy Spiral Arms (also called M33) are arms of star formation in the constellation Andromeda. They extend out from the central bulge of the galaxy. I hope you have enjoyed the stunning Andromeda Galaxy photo along with the additional information added about Andromeda.
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