Posted on 06/25/2021 2:22:10 PM PDT by MtnClimber
Explanation: How far can you see? The Andromeda Galaxy, 2.5 million light years away, is the most distant object easily seen by the unaided eye. Other denizens of the night sky, like stars, clusters, and nebulae, are typically hundreds to thousands of light-years distant. That's far beyond the Solar System but well within our own Milky Way Galaxy. Also known as M31, the external galaxy poses directly above a chimney in this well-planned deep night skyscape from an old mine in southern Portugal. The image was captured in a single exposure tracking the sky, so the foreground is slightly blurred by the camera's motion while Andromeda itself looms large. The galaxy's brighter central region, normally all that's visible to the naked-eye, can be seen extending to spiral arms with fainter outer reaches spanning over 4 full moons across the sky. Of course in only 5 billion years or so, the stars of Andromeda could span the entire night sky as the Andromeda Galaxy merges with the Milky Way.
For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.
Usually a strain to see.
My bartender would pour me an Andromeda in a single shot. And after a few shots, you’d see stars.
“Of course in only 5 billion years or so, the stars of Andromeda could span the entire night sky as the Andromeda Galaxy merges with the Milky Way.”
Not on MY watch, it won’t! :)
In August I can see the Milky Way from my front porch. I got a new camera and plan on trying to take a few pictures this summer. I’ll post some if they’re any good. ;)
One of the thrills of my youth was seeing Andromeda through my 2.4” refracting telescope when I was about 15. In the wintertime against a moonless sky. It took a while to zero in on it but it finally appeared in my eyepiece. Not a spectacular view in such a small scope, just a dim patch of light, but undeniably there. All I could think of was the time it took for that light to impinge upon my retina.
One of the problems with long focal length telescopes, is that their field of view is so small, you can’t get all of Andromeda into frame. To get around this with long focal lengths, is to shoot several frames and put them together like a mosaic.
Ah... there is that chimney in the way.
I cannot see the galaxy.
Is that a smoke ring coming out of the chimney?
I got a chuckle out of that one!
The bad news is The Andromeda Galaxy and The Milky Way Galaxy are on a collision course. Andromeda is heading for us at about 400,000 miles an hour.
But it’ll be sometime before it gets here.
I don’t have any worry about a collision with the Andromeda Galaxy. The key word is, “SPACE.” Our two galaxies should be able to “collide,” with not one celestial body hitting another. Now, the two galaxies could join, which might make it more likely for a collision of bodies, but SPACE will still be a great factor.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
