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Image Gallery > Featured Image on September 19, 2006

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Galactic Empire 
Galactic Empire 
The Andromeda galaxy, M31, is the center of a vast galactic empire. At least 10 smaller galaxies orbit M31, including M32 (just below Andromeda's disk) and NGC 205 (to the upper right). Because it is so faint, the 10th companion galaxy was discovered only recently. M31 is about 2.5 million light-years away, and is visible to the unaided eye at this time of year as a faint smudge of light. It is low in the northeast during early evening. [Credit: Bill Schoening/Vanessa Harvey/REU program/NOAO/AURA/NSF] For more information, see our September 19 program.

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