The Andromeda Galaxy, also known as Messier 31
The Andromeda Galaxy, also known as Messier 31, M31, or NGC
224 and originally the Andromeda Nebula, is a barred spiral galaxy
approximately 2.5 million light-years from Earth and the nearest large galaxy
to the Milky Way.
It is name for the Ethiopian Princess Andromeda who is
famous for the story of her rescue from a sea dragon by the Greek Hero Perseus.
Distance to Earth: 2.537 million light years
Radius: 110,000 light years
Age: 10.01 billion years
Stars: 1 trillion
The constellation is associated with the Andromedids meteor
shower (also known as the Bielids), first documented on December 6, 1741 over
Russia.