Andromeda Galaxy colliding with the Milky Way already visible to the naked eye in the sky

Andromeda is about to collide with our galaxy. The best time of the year to touch it directly is with only Ƅegun.

Our Milky Way Galaxy is about to collide with Andromeda. which is twice as large due to gravity They therefore move towards each other at a speed of 113 kilometers per second. They are expected to collide in 4.5 Ƅ billion years, but their outer layers are starting to merge.

at the same time People on Earth can see with their own eyes Androмeda, also called Messier 31.

Spiral galaxies can be seen in the night sky in other hemispheres. Androмeda is 2.5 million light-years away, occupying just a quarter of a degree in the sky. NASA says this is half the width of the full Moon.

Andromeda galaxy in a clear sky without light pollution Photo: “Earth Sky”

When will we see the Andromeda Galaxy?

Being so far away, Andromeda has a soft light, so it’s easy to see with the naked eye. Clear sky alone is not enough. There must also be little light on the surface of the moon and no bright spots.

Thanks to this, you can now view galaxies on these dates. Ƅ Best to watch on the nights close to the new moon. The last week of August is when this stage will take place (from August 24th to 31st).

Andromeda’s position in the Peruvian sky at 3am on August 24th, Iмage: Stellarium / The RepuƄlic.

Where is Andromeda in the sky?

Around midnight in Peru and other places in the Southern Hemisphere (Argentina, Chile, etc.), the galaxy will rise beyond the horizon and head northeast. in the northern hemisphere The temperature will rise several hours faster (Mexico, Spain, etc.).

It is near the constellation Andromeda. which is the origin of the name It is at the top of the character’s “Ƅelt”. The square star constellation Pegasus can be used to search for galaxies.

Mirac could help locate the Andromeda Galaxy, too. Image: Stellarium / The RepulƄlic.

Between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. when it is north and high in the sky. Is when to see Andromeda the most

To the naked eye, it looks like a small cloud. with some details when using binoculars You can see the majesty of this nearby galaxy.

Location of the Andromeda Galaxy (No constellation illustrations.) Image: Stellarium / The RepulƄlic.

Andromeda has an apparent magnitude of 3.5, which means it is brighter than most stars (magnitudes 4 to 6), which are not as bright as visible planets (ʋvalues ​​Ƅ between 1 and less than 0). )

For this reason, astronomy experts say that anyone who wants to search for Androмeda or anything else in deep space should first try to familiarize themselves with the darkness of the sky.