Astronomy Picture of the Day - NGC 206 and the Star Clouds of Andromeda

NASA ^ | 28 Nov, 2024 | Image Credit & Copyright: Roberto Marinoni

[MtnClimber]

Explanation: The large stellar association cataloged as NGC 206 is nestled within the dusty arms of the neighboring Andromeda galaxy along with the galaxy's pinkish star-forming regions. Also known as M31, the spiral galaxy is a mere 2.5 million light-years away. NGC 206 is found at the center of this sharp and detailed close-up of the southwestern extent of Andromeda's disk. The bright, blue stars of NGC 206 indicate its youth. In fact, its youngest massive stars are less than 10 million years old. Much larger than the open or galactic clusters of young stars in the disk of our Milky Way galaxy, NGC 206 spans about 4,000 light-years. That's comparable in size to the giant stellar nurseries NGC 604 in nearby spiral M33 and the Tarantula Nebula in the Large Magellanic Cloud.

[MtnClimber]

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For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.

[MtnClimber]

[MtnClimber]

Pinging the APOD list

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[No name given]

Wow.

[Deaf and Discerning]

Looks like the pattern on my vinyl kitchen floor. The pattern is so random, you can’t tell when it needs cleaning.

[AFB-XYZ]

Looks like the pattern on my vinyl kitchen floor. The pattern is so random, you can’t tell when it needs cleaning.

I have GOT to get me one of those. :-)

[telescope115]

It’s been quite some time since I’ve observed M31 in my 4 1/2” refractor. In a really dark sky with just eyesight alone, it’s easy to make out if you know where to look for it. Very easy to see in my scope. What’s really interesting is seeing its two satellite galaxies, M32 and M 110 as well.

Binoculars will show it easily; you just have to know where to look.