How to find Andromeda (galaxy) (todays EarthSky)

[pokerfan]

Late fall is a good time to see Andromeda.

http://earthsky.org/tonight/star-hopping-to-the-andromeda-galaxy?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+fullsite+%28EarthSky%29

Why would we want to do this? Well, the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is pretty much the farthest thing you can see with your naked eye (certainly the easiest farthest object). At more than 2.5 Mly distance that means the little photons falling on your retina began their journey more than two and half million years ago. (From our time frame, anyway. For the photon, the trip was instantaneous but that's another story.) Two and a half million years ago, our genus (Homo) was just emerging:


(Homo habilis)

Sure, it's a long ways away, but it's actually the closest spiral galaxy to ours (Milky Way).

To locate Andromeda, First, sometime after dark, find the great square of Pegasus:



From the north-east corner star called Alpheratz (Alpha Andromedae), follow the stars to Mirach (Beta Andromedae) and turn right. Then two more stars and:



Andromeda will appear as a fuzzy cloudy patch but it's actually a galaxy containing a trillion stars, more than twice as many as ours.

Another fun fact: Since our Milky Way is also a spiral (SBc) and is inclined towards Andromeda much the same way as Andromeda is inclined towards ours, means that any eye balls (or eye stalks or whatever they use over there) looking towards us would see about the same thing we see (albeit) smaller when we look at them.

[Deep13]

1. I found this amatuer photo that approximates how it looks...

from a clear, dark site through a medium sized amateur telescope.

[pokerfan]

2. It's also pretty good in binoculars

an instrument most everyone owns. And as with all deep sky objects, they will appear brighter when you're not looking directly at them. Averted vision.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Averted_vision

[Deep13]

3. True, especially under really dark skies. nt

[msongs]

4. which planet is the really bright one now overhead about 3 hours after sunset? nt

[TreasonousBastard]

5. Jupiter...

One the most popular stargazer's software is Stellarium:

http://www.stellarium.org/

There are also apps around for Apple and Android gadgets so you can point them at the sky and they'll tell you what you're looking at.

[msongs]

6. lol DU is the source of all my astronomical information nt

[Odin2005]

10. Jupiter.

It has to be Jupiter because the only other planet that is as bright is Venus and the latter can't get too far from the sun in the sky.

[dtexdem]

7. But won't my GPS tell me how far to go and where to turn?

Well, after all, finding Andromeda is such a strain. ;-)

[jakeXT]

8. There is

The SkyScout is a revolutionary handheld device that uses advanced GPS technology with point-and-click convenience to identify and locate thousands of stars, planets, constellations and more.

Identify
Simply point the SkyScout at nearly any star in the sky and click the "target" button. The SkyScout will identify and display the object you are looking at.

Locate
To locate a star or planet, select the object's name from the menu and follow the directional arrows
through the viewfinder. SkyScout shows you when you are on target. It's that easy!
http://www.celestron.com/c3/product.php?CatID=57&ProdID=394

[Odin2005]

9. I can easily see it at this time of year with the naked eye.

It's very cool.

[Nihil]

11. Oh to live in a place where the sky is dark enough for that ...

... rather than just being able to visit such places every now & then ...

Very cool indeed! :hi: