The Andromeda Galaxy and You

The Andromeda Galaxy is viewable via the naked eye as a small blurry splotch. I'd always assumed that it appears tiny because it's millions of light years away.

Aw, contraire!

The Andromeda Galaxy is huge, even in our own Earthly sky. In fact, it occupies more sky real estate than the moon - several times more! We only see the galaxy's center, because the rest is too faint to view with the eye. Not too small...just too faint!

Want to see how much of our sky the Andromeda Galaxy actually occupies? Here's a time lapse, comparing it to the moon. Woah!!

By the way, we may one day collide with the Andromeda Galaxy. But don't sweat it.