Some Andromeda info for you....

Andromeda is an "island universe", an immense galaxy in its own right, similar to our Milky Way. M31 has the distinction of being the nearest galaxy to our own at a distance of 2.5 million light years. Its disk, tilted toward earth by some 13 degrees, exposes the grandeur of its spiral structure and star systems. Contrary to most galaxies which are receding away from each other, M31 and the Milky Way are actually moving toward each other and a close encounter or even a full collision may be in store for both galaxies in several billion years.

Recent Hubble observations have identified a rotating disk of more than 400 blue stars orbiting the nucleus of Andromeda. The disk of blue stars formed some 200 million years ago in a sudden starburst. The disk is only one light year in diameter and its stars have a remarkable orbital velocity of 2.2 million miles per hour, this remarkable speed can only be explained by a central black hole having a total mass of some 140 million suns. It is now widely believed that most, if not all, galaxies have supermassive black holes in their centers.

Great photo and great information. I'm glad you did this.

Fantastic Phil, this is one of my favorites.

Oh MY.....this is gorgeous and very imformative as well. Space is soo beautiful. Great!!

my my. Amazing capture of such an amazing phenomena. Who knows what else lies there and how far it goes?

I`m in awe........just stunning.

Fantastic Phil. Really epic and awe inspiring.

Awesome Phil, I appreciate so much your space posts! Into my favs this goes and thank you!

I hope to go explore it someday. :)

Wonderful, Phil. Thanks!!! :-)

That is an amazing image, i remember watching a program on the tv that was explaining about black holes and they actually mentioned that they believe every Galaxy has a black hole at the center, Very interesting stuff, Great resolution pic :)

In 3 or 4 billion years, the Andromeda Galaxy will collide with our galaxy? So what are you doing about this looming catastrophe?

I know, you're all taking the attitude "What has posterity ever done for us."

stunning!

Impossible to do better than the real thing! Our galaxy's backyard is an amazing place.

Just awesome
I have a new mac and am trying to make this my desktop, unsuccessfully
Any hints of help would be appreciated
Chris G
cg274@yahoo.com

I really appreciate you sharing this photo and the link to Roberts site. It truly is amazing. Andromeda is my favorite galaxy, besides our own...of course. :) Keep up the great work.

Aren't they making a movie called "The Andromeda Strain"? Maybe that's where they got it.
Amazing. I'm speechless.

Wooowww... If you crook your eyes just a little bit it looks like the galaxy is moving across the starfield. I've never seen that happen before. Thanks for exposing me to it.

Hi guys, sorry if this is a nOOb question, but im guessing that all the stars you can see in this picture are in the foreground. Would I be right in saying that?

I wonder if theres anything alive in there