Andromeda Galaxy

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The Andromeda Galaxy is the largest in the local group of galaxies to which the Milky Way belongs, and twice its size. It is a spiral galaxy 2.3 million light years away, and it is the most distant object visible to the naked eye. Astronomers sometimes call it M31 or NGC 224.		Figure 1
Andromeda is not easy to find. Only people in the Northern hemisphere are likely to see it. It lies near to the Milky Way, close to the constellation Cassiopeia and not far from Cygnus. These two constellations fairly easy to find. You will probably need binoculars to find Andromeda, or a very dark night far from city lights.		Figure 2