Andromeda Galaxy
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope infrared view of the Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31). Spitzer's 24-micron mosaic is the sharpest image ever taken of the dust in a spiral galaxy, other than our Milky Way. Asymmetrical features are seen in the prominent ring of star formation, which appears to be split into two pieces, forming the hole to the lower right. At optical wavelengths, the center of the galaxy is dominated by a large bulge that is far less pronounced in the Spitzer 24-micron infrared image, allowing us to see the delicate tracings of spiral arms in the inner region that reach into the center of the galaxy. One sees only select stars within Andromeda that are wrapped in envelopes of dust light up at infrared wavelengths. Dust lanes would be faintly visible in places, but only where they can be seen in silhouette against background stars. (See BG2988). The data were taken on August 25, 2004, the one-year anniversary of the launch of the space telescope.
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Keywords: 31, andromeda, astronomical, astronomy, astrophotography, galaxies, galaxy, image, infrared, m31, messier, multi-wavelength, photography, space, spiral, spitzer, telescope
