Andromeda Galaxy is one of the closest to our own galaxy, the large star clusters.It is part of the so-called local group of galaxies, whose members, in addition to it, our Milky Way is a satellite galaxy and the galaxy of the Triangle (which can also have satellites while undetected).In fact, the closest to the Milky Way are small clusters - Large and Small Magellanic Clouds.The galaxy itself combines a trillion stars (which is five times larger than our own), and the radius of its circle - more than 110 thousand light years.Andromeda galaxy is from us at a distance of two and a half million light-years away, and to get there, the most perfect to date, the spacecraft would take 46 billion years.This is at least six times greater than the Earth exists.These figures are even difficult to imagine!
history of observations of galaxy-neighbor
dense cluster of stars in the sky was seen in the Middle Ages.In particular, one of the Arab chronicles Andromeda is referred to as a small cloud.This cluster of stars located in the constellation of Andromeda (for which, in fact, the nebula got its name) was observed by astronomers for centuries.However, without significant advancements in its description.However, the technological capabilities have allowed humanity to make a step forward in this regard.In 1885, there are interesting event - in the galaxy Andromeda broke a supernova, and the attention of astronomers around the world turned to this cluster.However, according to one version, she burst out long ago, several million years ago, and that scientists have taken for the birth of a new star - only the light from the explosion, which is only now (or rather, in 1885) came to Earth.Andromeda, a photo which was first obtained in 1887, appears to astronomers as a huge spiral clusters of bodies.The stunning discovery made in 1921 by Vesto Slipher American.Calculating the trajectory of the galaxy, it is found that the Andromeda Nebula with terrific speed rushes straight towards the Milky Way.According to current estimates of astronomers through 4 billion years of the merger of two galaxies.It does not look like a collision, but the two star clusters probably undergo considerable rearrangement and modification of their own orbits.I'm sure many will be forced out of the body, even from within the newly formed galaxy in interstellar space.Interestingly, in 1993 in the center of the Andromeda Nebula was discovered another star cluster.Perhaps it is the trace of a galaxy, nebula absorbed millions of years ago.
Features nebula
According to the ideas of modern astrophysics, in the centers of most galaxies are spiral supermassive black holes.They are difficult to see because of the large conglomerations of celestial bodies in the centers of the spirals, and also due to lack of emission or reflection of light.However, black holes can be detected by observing how they affect the other objects.It is interesting that at the core of the Andromeda Galaxy are a combination of two of these candidate supermassive black holes.
