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Description
This is a very hi-rez photograph taken from the Hubble orbiting telescope. M31, the famous Andromeda Galaxy, is the nearest large galaxy to the earth. It is so bright that it is easily seen by the naked eye on clear nights. M31 is an 'island universe' - a gigantic collection of billions of stars estimated to be 2.9 million light years distant. It has been observed since ancient times and was first catalogued as long ago as 905 AD. Charles Messier recorded it in his famous Messier catalogue in August 1764.

Description
This is a very hi-rez photograph taken from the Hubble orbiting telescope. M31, the famous Andromeda Galaxy, is the nearest large galaxy to the earth. It is so bright that it is easily seen by the naked eye on clear nights. M31 is an 'island universe' - a gigantic collection of billions of stars estimated to be 2.9 million light years distant. It has been observed since ancient times and was first catalogued as long ago as 905 AD. Charles Messier recorded it in his famous Messier catalogue in August 1764.