Andromeda Galaxy

The Andromeda Galaxy Observation data (J2000 epoch) Pronunciation /ndrmd/ Constellation Andromeda Ri ht ascension 00h 42m 44.3s[1] !eclination +41 16 ![1] " # $0.001001 Redshi"t %m&n's s&(n &nd&)a*es blueshi"t+[1] #elio radial velocity ,301 - 1 .m/s[2] 2./4 - 0.11 0ly !istance %112 - 33 .3)+[2][3][4][/][6][a] $ype 4A%s+5[1] 6171012[2][1] 0 %ass &umber o" stars 1 *r&ll&on %1012+[2] Apparent dimensions (') 1 0 7 60[1] Apparent ma nitude (') 3.44[ ][10] Absolute ma nitude (') ,21./[5][4] Other desi nations 0318 9G: 2248 ;G: 4/48 <G: 2//18 2: /6 %:ore+8 [1] =>?A 2//1

The Andromeda Galaxy /ndrmd/ &s a s3&ral (alaxy a33rox&ma*ely 2./ m&ll&on l&(h*$ years %2.47101 .m+ @rom >ar*h[4] &n *he Andromeda )ons*ella*&on. Also .noAn as 0ess&er 318 %()8 or &GC 22*8 &* &s o@*en re@erred *o as *he Great Andromeda Nebula &n older *ex*s. The Andromeda Galaxy &s *he neares* s3&ral (alaxy *o o'r 0&l.y Bay (alaxy8 5'* no* *he )loses* (alaxy oCerall. D* (e*s &*s name @rom *he area o@ *he s.y &n Ah&)h &* a33ears8 *he )ons*ella*&on o@ Andromeda8 Ah&)h Aas named a@*er *he my*holo(&)al 3r&n)ess Andromeda. The Andromeda Galaxy &s *he lar(es* (alaxy o@ *he =o)al Gro'38 Ah&)h also )on*a&ns *he 0&l.y Bay8 *he Tr&an('l'm Galaxy8 and a5o'* 30 o*her smaller (alax&es. Al*ho'(h *he lar(es*8 *he Andromeda Galaxy may no* 5e *he mos* mass&Ce8 as re)en* @&nd&n(s s'((es* *ha* *he 0&l.y Bay )on*a&ns more dar. ma**er and )o'ld 5e *he mos* mass&Ce &n *he (ro'3&n(.[11] The 2006 o5serCa*&ons 5y *he 43&*"er 43a)e Teles)o3e reCealed *ha* 031 )on*a&ns one *r&ll&on %1012+ s*arsE[2] a* leas* *A&)e *he n'm5er o@ s*ars &n *he 0&l.y Bay (alaxy8 Ah&)h &s es*&ma*ed *o 5e 200F400 5&ll&on.[12]

The Andromeda Galaxy &s es*&ma*ed *o 5e 1.171011 solar masses.[2] Dn )om3ar&son a 200 s*'dy es*&ma*ed *ha* *he 0&l.y Bay and 031 are a5o'* eG'al &n mass8[13] Ah&le a 2006 s*'dy 3'* *he mass o@ *he 0&l.y Bay a* 620H o@ *he mass o@ *he Andromeda Galaxy. The *Ao (alax&es are ex3e)*ed *o )oll&de &n 3.1/ 5&ll&on years8 eCen*'ally mer(&n( *o @orm a (&an* ell&3*&)al (alaxy.[14] A* an a33aren* ma(n&*'de o@ 3.48 *he Andromeda Galaxy &s one o@ *he 5r&(h*es* 0ess&er o5Ie)*s8[1/] ma.&n( &* C&s&5le *o *he na.ed eye on moonless n&(h*s eCen Ahen C&eAed @rom areas A&*h modera*e l&(h* 3oll'*&on. Al*ho'(h &* a33ears more *han s&x *&mes as A&de as *he @'ll 0oon Ahen 3ho*o(ra3hed *hro'(h a lar(er *eles)o3e8 only *he 5r&(h*er )en*ral re(&on &s C&s&5le *o *he na.ed eye or Ahen C&eAed 's&n( 5&no)'lars or a small *eles)o3e.

Observation history

Grea* Andromeda 9e5'la 5y Dsaa) Jo5er*s The <ers&an as*ronomer A5d al$Jahman al$4'@& Aro*e a l&ne a5o'* *he )ha&ned )ons*ella*&on &n h&s Book of Fixed Stars aro'nd 648 des)r&5&n( &* as a Ksmall )lo'dK.[16][11] 4*ar )har*s o@ *ha* 3er&od haCe &* la5eled as *he Little Cloud.[11] The @&rs* des)r&3*&on o@ *he o5Ie)* 5ased on *eles)o3&) o5serCa*&on Aas (&Cen 5y German as*ronomer 4&mon 0ar&'s on ?e)em5er 1/8 1612.[12] :harles 0ess&er )a*alo('ed &* as o5Ie)* 031 &n 1164 and &n)orre)*ly )red&*ed 0ar&'s as *he d&s)oCerer8 'naAare o@ Al 4'@&Ls earl&er Aor.. Dn 112/8 *he as*ronomer B&ll&am Mers)hel no*ed a @a&n* redd&sh h'e &n *he )ore re(&on o@ 031. Me 5el&eCed &* *o 5e *he neares* o@ all *he K(rea* ne5'laeK and 5ased on *he )olor and ma(n&*'de o@ *he ne5'la8 he &n)orre)*ly ('essed *ha* &* Aas no more *han 28000 *&mes *he d&s*an)e o@ 4&r&'s.[1 ] B&ll&am M'((&ns &n 1264 o5serCed *he s3e)*r'm o@ 031 and no*ed *ha* &* d&@@ered @rom a (aseo's ne5'la.[20] The s3e)*ra o@ 031 d&s3layed a )on*&n''m o@ @reG'en)&es8 s'3er&m3osed A&*h dar. a5sor3*&on l&nes *ha* hel3 &den*&@y *he )hem&)al )om3os&*&on o@ an o5Ie)*. The Andromeda ne5'la Aas Cery s&m&lar *o *he s3e)*ra o@ &nd&C&d'al s*ars8 and @rom *h&s &* Aas ded')ed *ha* 031 had a s*ellar na*'re. Dn 122/8 a s'3ernoCa %.noAn as 4 Andromedae+ Aas seen &n 0318 *he @&rs* and so @ar only one o5serCed &n *ha* (alaxy. A* *he *&me 031 Aas )ons&dered *o 5e a near5y o5Ie)*8 so *he )a'se Aas *ho'(h* *o 5e a m')h less l'm&no's and 'nrela*ed eCen* )alled a noCa8 and Aas named a))ord&n(ly K9oCa 122/K.[21] The @&rs* 3ho*o(ra3hs o@ 031 Aere *a.en &n 1221 5y Dsaa) Jo5er*s @rom h&s 3r&Ca*e o5serCa*ory &n 4'ssex8 >n(land. The lon($d'ra*&on ex3os're alloAed *he s3&ral s*r')*'re o@ *he (alaxy *o 5e seen @or *he @&rs* *&me.[23] MoAeCer8 a* *he *&me *h&s o5Ie)* Aas s*&ll )ommonly 5el&eCed *o 5e a ne5'la A&*h&n o'r (alaxy8 and Jo5er*s m&s*a.enly 5el&eCed *ha* 031 and s&m&lar s3&ral ne5'lae Aere a)*'ally solar sys*ems 5e&n( @ormed8 A&*h *he sa*ell&*es nas)en* 3lane*s[citation needed]. The rad&al Celo)&*y o@ *h&s o5Ie)* A&*h res3e)* *o o'r solar sys*em Aas

meas'red &n 1 12 5y Nes*o 4l&3her a* *he =oAell O5serCa*ory8 's&n( s3e)*ros)o3y. The res'l* Aas *he lar(es* Celo)&*y re)orded a* *ha* *&me8 a* 300 .&lome*res 3er se)ond %1 0 m&/s+8 moC&n( &n *he d&re)*&on o@ *he 4'n.[24]

+sland universe

=o)a*&on o@ 031 &n *he Andromeda )ons*ella*&on Dn 1 118 Amer&)an as*ronomer Me5er :'r*&s o5serCed a noCa A&*h&n 031. 4ear)h&n( *he 3ho*o(ra3h&) re)ord8 11 more noCae Aere d&s)oCered. :'r*&s no*&)ed *ha* *hese noCae Aere8 on aCera(e8 10 ma(n&*'des @a&n*er *han *hose *ha* o))'rred elseAhere &n *he s.y. As a res'l* he Aas a5le *o )ome '3 A&*h a d&s*an)e es*&ma*e o@ /008000 l&(h*$years %3.271010 A;+. Me 5e)ame a 3ro3onen* o@ *he so$)alled K&sland 'n&CersesK hy3o*hes&s8 Ah&)h held *ha* s3&ral ne5'lae Aere a)*'ally &nde3enden* (alax&es.[2/] Dn 1 208 *he Grea* ?e5a*e 5e*Aeen MarloA 4ha3ley and :'r*&s *oo. 3la)e8 )on)ern&n( *he na*'re o@ *he 0&l.y Bay8 s3&ral ne5'lae8 and *he d&mens&ons o@ *he 'n&Cerse. To s'33or* h&s )la&m *ha* *he Grea* Andromeda 9e5'la %031+ Aas an ex*ernal (alaxy8 :'r*&s also no*ed *he a33earan)e o@ dar. lanes resem5l&n( *he d's* )lo'ds &n o'r oAn Galaxy8 as Aell as *he s&(n&@&)an* ?o33ler sh&@*. Dn 1 22 >rns* P3&. 3resen*ed a Cery ele(an* and s&m3le as*ro3hys&)al me*hod *o es*&ma*e *he d&s*an)e o@ 031. M&s res'l* 3'* *he Andromeda 9e5'la @ar o'*s&de o'r Galaxy a* a d&s*an)e o@ a5o'* 4/08000 3arse)8 Ah&)h &s a5o'* 18/008000 ly.[26] >dA&n M'55le se**led *he de5a*e &n 1 2/ Ahen he &den*&@&ed ex*ra(ala)*&) :e3he&d Car&a5le s*ars @or *he @&rs* *&me on as*ronom&)al 3ho*os o@ 031. These Aere made 's&n( *he 2./$me*re %100$&n+ Moo.er *eles)o3e8 and *hey ena5led *he d&s*an)e o@ Grea* Andromeda 9e5'la *o 5e de*erm&ned. M&s meas'remen* demons*ra*ed )on)l's&Cely *ha* *h&s @ea*'re Aas no* a )l's*er o@ s*ars and (as A&*h&n o'r Galaxy8 5'* an en*&rely se3ara*e (alaxy lo)a*ed a s&(n&@&)an* d&s*an)e @rom o'r oAn.[21]

4*ars &n *he Andromeda GalaxyLs d&s)[22] 031 3lays an &m3or*an* role &n (ala)*&) s*'d&es8 s&n)e &* &s *he neares* s3&ral (alaxy %al*ho'(h no* *he neares* (alaxy+. Dn 1 43 Bal*er Qaade Aas *he @&rs* 3erson *o resolCe s*ars &n *he )en*ral re(&on o@ *he Andromeda Galaxy. Qased on h&s o5serCa*&ons o@ *h&s (alaxy8 he Aas a5le *o d&s)ern *Ao d&s*&n)* 3o3'la*&ons o@ s*ars 5ased on *he&r me*all&)&*y8 nam&n( *he yo'n(8 h&(h Celo)&*y s*ars &n *he d&s. Ty3e D and *he older8 red s*ars &n *he 5'l(e Ty3e DD. Th&s nomen)la*'re Aas s'5seG'en*ly ado3*ed @or s*ars A&*h&n *he 0&l.y Bay8 and elseAhere. %The ex&s*en)e o@ *Ao d&s*&n)* 3o3'la*&ons had 5een no*ed earl&er 5y Ran Oor*.+[2 ] ?r. Qaade also d&s)oCered *ha* *here Aere *Ao *y3es o@ :e3he&d Car&a5les8 Ah&)h res'l*ed &n a do'5l&n( o@ *he d&s*an)e es*&ma*e *o 0318 as Aell as *he rema&nder o@ *he ;n&Cerse.[30] Jad&o em&ss&on @rom *he Andromeda Galaxy Aas @&rs* de*e)*ed 5y Man5'ry QroAn and :yr&l Ma"ard a* Rodrell Qan. O5serCa*ory 's&n( *he 212$@* Trans&* Teles)o3e8 and Aas anno'n)ed &n 1 /0[31][32] %>arl&er o5serCa*&ons Aere made 5y rad&o as*ronomy 3&oneer Gro*e Je5er &n 1 408 5'* Aere &n)on)l's&Ce8 and Aere la*er shoAn *o 5e an order o@ ma(n&*'de *oo h&(h+. The @&rs* rad&o ma3s o@ *he (alaxy Aere made &n *he 1 /0s 5y Rohn QaldA&n and )olla5ora*ors a* *he :am5r&d(e Jad&o As*ronomy Gro'3.[33] The )ore o@ *he Andromeda Galaxy &s )alled 2: /6 &n *he 2: rad&o as*ronomy )a*alo('e. Dn 200 8 *he @&rs* 3lane* may haCe 5een d&s)oCered &n *he Andromeda Galaxy. Th&s )and&da*e Aas de*e)*ed 's&n( a *e)hn&G'e )alled m&)rolens&n(8 Ah&)h &s )a'sed 5y *he de@le)*&on o@ l&(h* 5y a mass&Ce o5Ie)*.[34]

General

The Andromeda Galaxy as seen 5y 9A4ALs B&de$@&eld Dn@rared 4'rCey >x3lorer The meas'red d&s*an)e *o *he Andromeda Galaxy Aas do'5led &n 1 /3 Ahen &* Aas d&s)oCered *ha* *here &s ano*her8 d&mmer *y3e o@ :e3he&d. Dn *he 1 0s8 meas'remen*s o@ 5o*h s*andard red (&an*s as Aell as red )l'm3 s*ars @rom *he Hipparcos sa*ell&*e meas'remen*s Aere 'sed *o )al&5ra*e *he :e3he&d d&s*an)es.[3/][36]

,ormation and history

A))ord&n( *o a *eam o@ as*ronomers re3or*&n( &n 20108 031 Aas @ormed o'* o@ *he )oll&s&on o@ *Ao smaller (alax&es 5e*Aeen / and 5&ll&on years a(o.[31] A 3a3er 3'5l&shed &n 2012[32] has o'*l&ned 031Ls 5as&) h&s*ory s&n)e &*s 5&r*h. A))ord&n( *o &*8 Andromeda Aas 5orn ro'(hly 10 5&ll&on years a(o @rom *he mer(er o@ many smaller 3ro*o(alax&es8 lead&n( *o a (alaxy smaller *han *he one Ae see *oday. The mos* &m3or*an* eCen* &n 031Ls 3as* h&s*ory Aas *he mer(er men*&oned a5oCe *ha* *oo. 3la)e 2 5&ll&on years a(o. Th&s C&olen* )oll&s&on @ormed mos* o@ &*s %me*al$r&)h+ (ala)*&) halo and ex*ended d&s. and d'r&n( *ha* e3o)h AndromedaLs s*ar @orma*&on Ao'ld haCe 5een Cery h&(h8 *o *he 3o&n* o@ 5e)om&n( a l'm&no's &n@rared (alaxy @or ro'(hly 100 m&ll&on years. 031 and *he Tr&an('l'm Galaxy %033+ had a Cery )lose 3assa(e 2F4 5&ll&on years a(o. Th&s eCen* 3rod')ed h&(h leCels o@ s*ar @orma*&on a)ross *he Andromeda GalaxyLs d&s. F eCen some (lo5'lar )l's*ers F and d&s*'r5ed 033Ls o'*er d&s.. Bh&le *here has 5een a)*&C&*y d'r&n( *he las* 2 5&ll&on years8 *h&s has 5een m')h loAer *han d'r&n( *he 3as*. ?'r&n( *h&s e3o)h8 s*ar @orma*&on *hro'(ho'* 031Ls d&s. de)reased *o *he 3o&n* o@ nearly sh'**&n( doAn8 *hen &n)reased a(a&n rela*&Cely re)en*ly. There haCe 5een &n*era)*&ons A&*h sa*ell&*e (alax&es l&.e 0328 01108 or o*hers *ha* haCe already 5een a5sor5ed 5y 031. These &n*era)*&ons haCe @ormed s*r')*'res l&.e AndromedaLs G&an* 4*ellar 4*ream. A mer(er ro'(hly 100 m&ll&on years a(o &s 5el&eCed *o 5e res3ons&5le @or a )o'n*er$ro*a*&n( d&s. o@ (as @o'nd &n *he )en*er o@ 031 as Aell as *he 3resen)e *here o@ a rela*&Cely yo'n( %100 m&ll&on years old+ s*ellar 3o3'la*&on.

Recent distance estimate

A* leas* @o'r d&s*&n)* *e)hn&G'es haCe 5een 'sed *o meas're d&s*an)es *o *he Andromeda Galaxy. Dn 20038 's&n( *he &n@rared s'r@a)e 5r&(h*ness @l')*'a*&ons %D$4QS+ and adI's*&n( @or *he neA 3er&od$l'm&nos&*y Cal'e o@ Sreedman e* al. 2001 and 's&n( a me*all&)&*y )orre)*&on o@ ,0.2 ma( dex,1 &n %O/M+8 an es*&ma*e o@ 2./1 - 0.06 me(al&(h*$years %1 0 - 12 .3)+ Aas der&Ced.

The Andromeda Galaxy 3&)*'red &n 'l*raC&ole* l&(h* 5y GA=>T ;s&n( *he :e3he&d Car&a5le me*hod8 an es*&ma*e o@ 2./1 - 0.13 0ly %110 - 40 .3)+ Aas re3or*ed &n 2004.[2][3] Dn 200/ D(nas& J&5as %:4D:8 Dns*&*'*e @or 43a)e 4*'d&es o@ :a*alon&a %D>>:++ and )ollea('es anno'n)ed *he d&s)oCery o@ an e)l&3s&n( 5&nary s*ar &n *he Andromeda Galaxy. The 5&nary s*ar8 des&(na*ed 031NR004431 +412 2368[)] has *Ao l'm&no's and ho* 5l'e s*ars o@ *y3es O and Q. Qy s*'dy&n( *he e)l&3ses o@ *he s*ars8 Ah&)h o))'r eCery 3./4 6 days8 *he as*ronomers Aere a5le *o meas're *he&r s&"es. UnoA&n( *he s&"es and *em3era*'res o@ *he s*ars8 *hey Aere a5le *o meas're *he a5sol'*e ma(n&*'de o@ *he s*ars. Bhen *he C&s'al and a5sol'*e ma(n&*'des are .noAn8 *he d&s*an)e *o *he s*ar )an 5e meas'red. The s*ars l&e a* a d&s*an)e o@ 2./2 - 0.14 0ly %110 - 43 .3)+ and *he Ahole Andromeda Galaxy a* a5o'* 2./ 0ly %110 .3)+.[4] Th&s neA Cal'e &s &n ex)ellen* a(reemen* A&*h *he 3reC&o's8 &nde3enden* :e3he&d$5ased d&s*an)e Cal'e. 031 &s )lose eno'(h *ha* *he T&3 o@ *he Jed G&an* Qran)h %TJGQ+ me*hod may also 5e 'sed *o es*&ma*e &*s d&s*an)e. The es*&ma*ed d&s*an)e *o 031 's&n( *h&s *e)hn&G'e &n 200/ y&elded 2./6 - 0.02 0ly %120 - 2/ .3)+.[/] ACera(ed *o(e*her8 all *hese d&s*an)e meas'remen*s (&Ce a )om5&ned d&s*an)e es*&ma*e o@ 2./4 - 0.11 0ly %120 - 34 .3)+.[a] Qased '3on *he a5oCe d&s*an)e8 *he d&ame*er o@ 031 a* *he A&des* 3o&n* &s es*&ma*ed *o 5e 141 - 3 .ly %438000 - 20 3)+.[d] A33ly&n( *r&(onome*ry %ar)*an(en*+8 *ha* @&('res *o ex*end&n( a* an a33aren* 3.12 an(le &n *he s.y.