
Astronomy
The Andromeda Galaxy
The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is the closest large galaxy to the Milky Way and is the most distant object in the sky that you can see with your unaided eye unaided from the Earth. At a distance of about 2.5 million light years, the Andromeda galaxy (also known as NGC 224 and M31).
The Andromeda Galaxy is approaching the Milky Way at approximately 140 kilometers per second. In approximately 4.5 billion years the Andromeda Galaxy and the Milky Way are expected to collide. Predictions are that our Sun could one day move and become a part of the Andromeda Galaxy.
Location
Located just to the north of the constellation Andromeda, the galaxy appears as a long, hazy patch in the sky. In the30inch it its shape will be clearly revealed its shape
The extent of the galaxy is large; it stretches to about six times as large the full moon. A spiral galaxy like the Milky Way, Andromeda contains a concentrated bulge of matter in the middle, surrounded by a disk of gas, dust, and stars 260,000 light-years long, more than 2.5 times as long as the Milky Way. The spiral arms stretch out from the core to a diameter of between 100,000 and 220,000 light-years.
Though Andromeda contains approximately a trillion stars to the quarter to half a billion in the Milky Way, our galaxy is actually more massive, because it is thought to contain more dark matter.
As with most, if not all, similar galaxies, Andromeda owes its shape to a supermassive black hole somewhere within its core. Recent research, however, indicates that Andromeda’s core arrangement is unusual. Andromeda appears to have a cluster of numerous black holes – one recent survey counted 26 of them. Current belief is that about 5 to 9 million years ago small galaxies collided and created Andromeda.
Andromeda Galaxy Facts: |
The Reepham Observatory wilol be open to the public from 18:00 – 21:00. If its a clear night take the opportunity visit our 20 foot dome and to look through our 72cm reflecting telescope. Members of the Reepham High School astronomy club will also be operatng the Robotic Telescope. In addition a mumber of smaller telescope will be setup for you to use. We can’t guarantee a clear night, however we have taken video of Moon.
The event will be held in the 6th Form Colledge, with the doors opening at 6.00 pm. How do I know whether observing will take place?
If you are planning observing it can get very cold, so be prepaired and wrap up warmly. The 6 meter dome is a 400 meter walk, so help will be on hand to guide you about the school grounds.How do I find you and where do I park?