5 best NASA images of Andromeda, our neighbouring galaxy

[{"selector":"#anim-9a15f98d-a0e0-49e4-b87a-715517072b77","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":445,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0ea939fa-a014-49c9-affb-9efe55d55e87","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(109.51009%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":445,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5bfb26c9-1106-4794-a830-a32476571639 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] This image from NASA’s Galaxy Evolution Explorer shows the big galaxy in Andromeda, called Messier 31. Andromeda is the biggest galaxy near our Milky Way.

[{"selector":"#anim-1e442c26-bbd4-493d-a9eb-7649edc156c8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-40426142-a319-493f-8ae4-066dbf098de8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":445,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4a8d60d1-b9d4-435c-ba37-78cb6d0732a0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-109.2219%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":445,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] This image of the Andromeda galaxy, or M31, includes data from the ESA (European Space Agency) Herschel mission.

[{"selector":"#anim-cd40c8f8-65fc-40c6-bf9e-dce4301e2e82 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, -0.00006811286535679528%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4e689949-096e-4f0b-829d-48868e2d50d8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":445,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-34d0dce3-74f6-42dd-b24b-089a75880445","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 131.44367%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":445,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer shows the vast Andromeda galaxy, or Messier 31, in full. At 2.5 million light-years away, Andromeda is the closest large galaxy to our Milky Way.

[{"selector":"#anim-a804dd03-4559-4b5f-8781-22effe27c347 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, -0.00013637742974381695%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2b5b49a2-0414-46a7-b890-4fcc8ce29056","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-109.51009%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-deec961b-c5e5-439f-9899-4a7b02b8000c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-95608a37-394e-4c74-bce4-534e85f28063","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] This image highlights the older stars of the Andromeda galaxy in blue. It also shows a noticeable warp in the galaxy's disk, a result of a past collision with another galaxy.

[{"selector":"#anim-0bd0dfa5-2513-4fff-b1b9-bbf2bb0e97d6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0b2185bc-325f-4e5e-8eff-5b3aae97bb93","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-109.51009%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3ee74943-68fe-48b6-afa7-189f329afd04","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-529276f7-8fc6-48f7-a15a-a1b4f66a9b26","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] The Andromeda Galaxy, or M31, is the closest big galaxy to our Milky Way and is about four times more massive. Its light comes from billions of stars, and the stars you see around it are actually in our own galaxy.