﻿ Astronomy Picture of the Day [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2022 January 19 [2]The featured image shows the nearest major galaxy to our own Milky Way Galaxy: the Andromeda Galaxy (M31). Please see the explanation for more detailed information. M31: The Andromeda Galaxy Image Credit: [3]Subaru ([4]NAOJ), [5]Hubble ([6]NASA/[7]ESA), [8]Mayall ([9]NSF); Processing & Copyright: [10]R. Gendler & [11]R. Croman Explanation: The most distant object easily visible to the unaided eye is [12]M31, the great [13]Andromeda Galaxy. Even at some two and a half million [14]light-years distant, this immense spiral galaxy -- spanning [15]over 200,000 light years -- is visible, although as a faint, nebulous cloud in the [16]constellation Andromeda. In contrast, a bright yellow nucleus, dark winding [17]dust lanes, and expansive spiral arms dotted with [18]blue star clusters and [19]red nebulae, are recorded in [20]this stunning telescopic image which combines data from [21]orbiting Hubble with ground-based images from [22]Subaru and [23]Mayall. In only about 5 billion years, the Andromeda galaxy may be even [24]easier to see -- as it will likely span the entire night sky -- just before it [25]merges with our [26]Milky Way Galaxy. Tomorrow's picture: open space __________________________________________________________________ [27]< | [28]Archive | [29]Submissions | [30]Index | [31]Search | [32]Calendar | [33]RSS | [34]Education | [35]About APOD | [36]Discuss | [37]> __________________________________________________________________ Authors & editors: [38]Robert Nemiroff ([39]MTU) & [40]Jerry Bonnell ([41]UMCP) NASA Official: Phillip Newman [42]Specific rights apply. [43]NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices A service of: [44]ASD at [45]NASA / [46]GSFC & [47]Michigan Tech. U. References 1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html 2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2201/M31_HstSubaruGendler_5000.jpg 3. http://www.naoj.org/Introduction/index.html 4. http://www.naoj.org/ 5. http://hla.stsci.edu/hla_welcome.html 6. https://www.nasa.gov/ 7. https://www.esa.int/ 8. https://noirlab.edu/public/programs/kitt-peak-national-observatory/nicholas-mayall-4m-telescope/ 9. https://www.nsf.gov/ 10. http://robgendlerastropics.com/Biography2.html 11. https://www.rc-astro.com/about.html 12. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andromeda_Galaxy 13. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap210625.html 14. https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/light-year/en/ 15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap061228.html 16. http://www.hawastsoc.org/deepsky/and/index.html 17. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220117.html 18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap211124.html 19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap210214.html 20. http://www.robgendlerastropics.com/M31-HST-Subaru-NOAO-RC.html 21. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/story/index.html 22. https://subarutelescope.org/en/ 23. https://noirlab.edu/public/programs/kitt-peak-national-observatory/nicholas-mayall-4m-telescope/ 24. https://wallpaperaccess.com/full/621501.jpg 25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap120604.html 26. https://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/science/objects/milkyway1.html 27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220118.html 28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html 29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html 30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html 31. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search 32. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html 33. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod.rss 34. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html 35. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html 36. http://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=220119 37. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220120.html 38. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html 39. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/ 40. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html 41. http://www.astro.umd.edu/ 42. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply 43. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html 44. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/ 45. https://www.nasa.gov/ 46. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/ 47. http://www.mtu.edu/