Andromedastelsel

The Andromedastelsel, also known as the Andromeda Galaxy or Messier 31 (M31), is the closest large spiral galaxy to our own Milky Way. It is located approximately 2.537 million light-years away in the constellation Andromeda. This vast structure contains an estimated one trillion stars, significantly more than the Milky Way's estimated 100-400 billion.

Observations reveal that the Andromedastelsel is a barred spiral galaxy, similar in structure to our own. It has a prominent central bulge, a disc containing spiral arms, and a halo. Its diameter is estimated to be around 220,000 light-years, making it one of the largest galaxies in the Local Group, a collection of galaxies that includes the Milky Way.

The Andromedastelsel is a frequent subject of astronomical study. Its proximity allows for detailed observations of its stellar populations, star formation regions, and its central supermassive black hole. It is also known to be on a collision course with the Milky Way. Current estimates suggest that these two galaxies will merge in about 4.5 billion years, forming a larger elliptical galaxy. Despite this impending collision, the vast distances between stars mean that direct stellar collisions are highly unlikely. The Andromedastelsel is visible to the naked eye under dark sky conditions as a faint, fuzzy patch of light.