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NASA Unveils New Andromeda Galaxy Image

October 20, 2009 by Michael Hickerson   || Category: Space News

andromeda_galaxy

NASA’s Swift satellite has sent back a stunning new look at our closest neighbor, the Andromeda Galaxy.

The newly released photo shows a high-resolution image of our neighbor in ultraviolet.

“The galaxy, known as M31 in the constellation Andromeda, is the largest and closest spiral galaxy to our own. This mosaic of M31 merges 330 individual images taken by Swift’s Ultraviolet/Optical Telescope. The image shows a region 200,000 light-years wide and 100,000 light-years high (100 arcminutes by 50 arcminutes),” the space agency says on its web site.

If you want to see a larger version or download one as a desktop background, you can do so HERE.

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Comments

2 Responses to “NASA Unveils New Andromeda Galaxy Image”

  1. ejdalise on October 21st, 2009 7:54 am

    Just think, in about 3 Billion years we’ll hit that thing!

  2. Robin on October 21st, 2009 3:40 pm

    Pretty! Man, technology does some cool stuff these days. :)

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