Andromeda Galaxy (M31)

Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Andromeda, with an apparent magnitude of 3.4. It is about 2.5 million light-years away.

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<a href="https://constellationmap.org/messier/m31-andromeda-galaxy/"><img src="https://constellationmap.org/img/messier/m31-andromeda-galaxy-finder-chart.png" alt="Finder chart for the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) in the constellation Andromeda" width="800" height="800" loading="lazy"></a>
<br><small><a href="https://constellationmap.org/messier/m31-andromeda-galaxy/">Andromeda Galaxy (M31)</a> · Atlas of the Sky (constellationmap.org), <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY 4.0</a></small>

How to find the Andromeda Galaxy, step by step

Hop from the Great Square through Mirach.

On autumn evenings find the Great Square of Pegasus and its northeast corner, Alpheratz.
Follow the chain of stars east from Alpheratz to Mirach, the second bright star.
From Mirach go up (northwest) to the fainter Mu Andromedae, then the same distance again past Nu Andromedae.
Just beside Nu Andromedae lies the Andromeda Galaxy (M31): under a dark sky an elongated misty patch to the naked eye, 2.5 million light-years away.

Facts

Catalog	Messier 31 (M31)
Type	spiral galaxy
Constellation	Andromeda
Apparent magnitude	3.4
Distance	about 2.5 million light-years
Right ascension	0 h 42.7 min
Declination	+41.27°
Best month	November (at about 9 pm)

Sources: star positions, magnitudes and colors from the Yale Bright Star Catalogue; constellation boundaries and star names from the IAU; areas and distances from Wikidata; stick figures by M. van der Sluys. How the maps are made.

How to find the Andromeda Galaxy

The Andromeda Galaxy is in Andromeda. From 40° N it is highest in the north in November evenings, about 89° up. From 35° S it reaches about 14° in the north. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky and easy in binoculars.

Andromeda constellation →