The Andromeda Galaxy

The Andromeda Galaxy is a giant group of stars in space. It is the closest big galaxy to our own Milky Way. Andromeda has about one trillion stars. On a very dark night, you can see it with just your eyes as a fuzzy patch.

A Neighbor in Space

Andromeda is about 2.5 million light-years away. That means the light we see from it left the galaxy 2.5 million years ago. Even though it is so far away, it is our closest big neighbor. Andromeda is shaped like a flat spiral, just like the Milky Way. It has many smaller galaxies that orbit around it.

A Future Crash

Andromeda and the Milky Way are moving toward each other. They are heading for a crash in about 4.5 billion years. Don't worry, stars are so far apart that they won't hit each other. Instead, the two galaxies will slowly mix together. They will form one giant new galaxy.

Fun Facts

• Andromeda is also called M31 on the Messier list.
• It is the farthest thing most people can see without a telescope.
• It contains about one trillion stars, more than the Milky Way.

Did You Know?

When Andromeda crashes into the Milky Way, the new galaxy may be called Milkomeda.