Our galaxy is heading towards a collision with Andromeda. The best time of year to photograph it with the naked eye begins now.
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| This is what the Andromeda galaxy would look like in the night sky if it were brighter. |
The Milky Way, our galaxy, and Andromeda, a companion twice its size, are about to collide. Due to gravitational pressure, they are moving towards each other at a speed of 113 km/s, and although their collision is not expected to occur for another 4.5 billion years, their outer layers have already begun to combine.
Meanwhile, Andromeda, also known as Messier 31, is visible to the naked eye from Earth.
The spiral galaxy can be seen in the night skies of both hemispheres of our globe from mid-August to November. Although Andromeda is 2.5 million light years away from us, it only takes up a quarter of a degree of the sky. NASA says this is equivalent to half the width of a full moon.
| Andromeda galaxy in a clear sky without light pollution. Photo: Earth Sky |
When will the Andromeda galaxy be visible?
Because Andromeda is so far away, it shines diffusely. Consequently, not only a clear sky is required, but also a lack of lunar brightness and minimal surface light to be able to see it with the naked eye.
Because of this, it is easier to observe the galaxy on nights close to the new moon phase, even if it is already visible in the sky on these dates. This stage is scheduled to arrive during the last week of August, specifically from August 24 to 31. Likewise, you should look for a place free of light pollution, such as the countryside or a region outside of a city.
| Location of Andromeda in the Peruvian sky at 3 am on August 24. Image: Stellarium/The Republic |
How to locate Andromeda in the sky?
Around midnight in Peru and other southern hemisphere nations (Argentina, Chile, etc.), and hours earlier in northern hemisphere nations (Mexico, Spain, etc.), the galaxy emerges above the horizon, traveling northeastward .
It is located right at the height of the character’s “belt”, next to the Andromeda constellation, hence the name. Meanwhile, the galaxy can be found using the Pegasus constellation, which is distinguished by the quadrilateral formed by its stars.
| The Mirach star may also help locate the Andromeda galaxy. Image: Stellarium / The Republic |
Around midnight in Peru and other southern hemisphere nations (Argentina, Chile, etc.), and hours earlier in northern hemisphere nations (Mexico, Spain, etc.), the galaxy emerges above the horizon, traveling northeastward .
It is located right at the height of the character’s “belt”, next to the Andromeda constellation, hence the name. Meanwhile, the galaxy can be found using the Pegasus constellation, which is distinguished by the quadrilateral formed by its stars.
| Location of the Andromeda galaxy (no illustration of constellations). Image: Stellarium / The Republic |
With an apparent magnitude of 3.5 (the lower the number, the brighter), Andromeda is more visible than most stars that can be seen with the naked eye, but less visible than the planets. (from 1 to less than 0 in magnitudes).
Therefore, astronomical observing professionals advise anyone who wants to search for Andromeda or any other deep space object to try to acclimatize their eyes to the darkness of the sky before going out to look for them.
