Lexi Webster
The Andromeda Galaxy, also known as Messier 31 or the Great Spiral Galaxy, is one of the most distant objects that can be seen by the unaided human eye. It is 2.5 million light years from Earth and can be seen from anywhere in Australia, although the further north, the better. To spot it, look for the constellation Cassiopeia, which looks like 5 stars in a W shape. The right side of Cassiopeia makes a V shape that points right at the Andromeda Galaxy. Alternatively, you can use the Pegasus constellation—Andromeda is located between Cassiopeia and the Great Square of Pegasus.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Cassiopeia, Pegasus |
| Constellation shape | 5 stars in a "W" shape (Cassiopeia), giant rectangle (Pegasus) |
| Other identifying characteristics | The right side of Cassiopeia makes a "V" shape that points to the Andromeda Galaxy. The Andromeda Galaxy is located between Cassiopeia and the Great Square of Pegasus and looks like a blur or a hazy oval in the sky. |
| Best viewing time | December |
| Best viewing location | Anywhere in Australia, but the further north, the better |
| Light pollution | Avoid light pollution by going away from urban areas, street lights, or lit parks. |
| Adjusting eyes to the dark | Allow 15 minutes for eyes to adjust to the darkness |
| Stargazing apps | Star Chart app, NightSky app, GoSkyWatch |
| Telescopes | A telescope may help to see the spiral arms of the Andromeda Galaxy |
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What You'll Learn
Finding Andromeda in December: the best time to see it
The Andromeda Galaxy, also known as Messier 31 or "the Great Spiral Galaxy", is one of the most distant objects that can be seen by the unaided human eye. In December, the night sky provides the best view of distant galaxies for professional astronomers, but you can also see some of our closest neighbours, including Andromeda, if you know where to look.
To spot the Andromeda Galaxy, you need to look between the Pegasus and Cassiopeia constellations. The Pegasus constellation looks like a giant rectangle, with two lines of stars extending from the upper left-hand corner. This is the Andromeda constellation. The Cassiopeia constellation, on the other hand, looks like five stars in a "W" shape. The right side of the "W" points down directly at the Andromeda Galaxy.
You can also try drawing a line through the Mirach and Mu Andromedae stars. Start at the star in the upper left-hand corner of Pegasus and follow Andromeda down two stars. Mirach and Mu Andromedae will be stacked on top of one another, and if you draw a line through them and extend it past Mu Andromedae, you should encounter the Andromeda Galaxy.
When looking for Andromeda, it is best to go away from urban areas and light pollution, as the galaxy is not as bright as other stars around it. Give yourself about fifteen minutes to adapt your eyes to the darkness, and you may find that you can see more stars than you could initially.
If you are using a telescope, you may be able to see two faint fuzzy spots beside the galaxy, which are its companion galaxies.
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Using light conditions to your advantage
The light conditions are crucial when trying to spot the Andromeda Galaxy from Australia. The Andromeda Galaxy, also known as Messier 31 or "the Great Spiral Galaxy", is one of the furthest objects that can be seen by the naked human eye. However, light pollution can make it difficult to spot. It is best to avoid urban areas, street lights, and lit parks. Instead, opt for a mountain, an isolated field, or another area free from light pollution.
Additionally, it is important to allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness. The Andromeda Galaxy is not as bright as the surrounding stars, so give yourself at least fifteen minutes to adapt to the dark before beginning your search. The darker the sky, the better your chances of spotting the galaxy.
The time of year and night also play a role in light conditions. In Australia, the Andromeda Galaxy can be observed from anywhere in the country during December. However, the further north you go, the better the viewing conditions. The December night sky offers the optimal viewing conditions for distant galaxies, so take advantage of this month to increase your chances of success.
Furthermore, the moon's presence in the night sky can impact your ability to spot the Andromeda Galaxy. A full moon can make it more challenging to see faint objects in the sky, so plan your stargazing session for a time when the moon is not prominent or during a new moon phase.
Lastly, utilizing a telescope or binoculars can help you overcome some of the challenges posed by light conditions. These optical aids can gather more light, making it easier to spot the Andromeda Galaxy even in less-than-ideal lighting conditions.
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Locating the Cassiopeia constellation
To find the Cassiopeia constellation, you can start by locating the Big Dipper in Ursa Major, the Great Bear. Then, star-hop across to Polaris, the bright North Star. Draw an imaginary line from any Big Dipper handle star through Polaris, double the distance, and you will land on the Cassiopeia letter W. Cassiopeia contains five stars in a distinctive "W" or M-shape that is easy to recognise. These stars have names like Schedar, Caph, Ruchbah, Segin, and Achird.
Cassiopeia is best viewed from a location with minimal light pollution, away from city lights. Depending on your location, you may need to look very low on the horizon to spot it. Cassiopeia is visible all year round in the northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere, it appears very low on the horizon only in November and December.
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Finding the Pegasus and Andromeda constellations
The Pegasus constellation is one of the 88 recognised constellations and is the seventh-largest in the sky, occupying an area of 1121 square degrees. It is located in the fourth quadrant of the northern hemisphere (NQ4) and can be seen at latitudes between +90° and -60°. Pegasus is depicted with only the top half of the horse and is recognisable for the Great Square of Pegasus, which represents the main body of the winged horse in Greek mythology. The brightest star in Pegasus is the orange supergiant Epsilon Pegasi, also known as Enif, which marks the horse's muzzle.
Pegasus has only one bright object, the globular cluster M15, which is near the star Enif. You might be able to spot it with binoculars, but it is quite small and faint. The Great Square of Pegasus is made up of three bright stars in Pegasus and Alpha Andromedae, which was considered in ancient times to belong to both Pegasus and Andromeda.
The Andromeda constellation is separate from the Andromeda Galaxy. The constellation neighbours Pegasus and can be found by following two lines of stars extending from the upper left-hand corner of the Great Square of Pegasus. You can also draw a line through the Mirach and Mu Andromedae stars, which are two stars stacked on top of one another. Mu Andromedae is dimmer than Mirach and is the star closest to the Andromeda Galaxy.
The Andromeda Galaxy lies between the Pegasus constellation and the Cassiopeia constellation. It should look like a blur or a hazy oval in the sky.
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Using a telescope to see Andromeda's companion galaxies
The Andromeda Galaxy, also known as Messier 31 or "the Great Spiral Galaxy", is one of the most distant objects visible to the unaided human eye. It is the closest full-sized and independent galaxy to the Milky Way at only 2.5 million light years away.
To spot Andromeda's companion galaxies, you will need a telescope. Even with a basic telescope, you should be able to see M110, the brightest and largest of Andromeda's satellite galaxies. M32, the second-brightest and closest to Andromeda, should also be visible. These two galaxies appear as faint fuzzy spots beside Andromeda.
The best time to view Andromeda and its companion galaxies from Australia is between October and December, and the further north you are, the better. It is important to find a location away from light pollution, so avoid urban areas, street lights, and lit parks. Try to go somewhere dark and isolated, such as a mountain or a field. Give yourself about 15 minutes to adapt your eyes to the darkness, as this will help you see more stars.
To locate the Andromeda Galaxy, you can use the constellations Cassiopeia and Pegasus as guides. Cassiopeia contains five stars in a "W" shape, and the right side of this "W" points directly at Andromeda. Pegasus looks like a giant rectangle, and Andromeda lies to its left. Drawing a line through the Mirach and Mu Andromedae stars in the Andromeda constellation will also lead you to the galaxy. Mu Andromedae is the dimmer of the two stars and is the closest to Andromeda.
Through a telescope, you should be able to see Andromeda's disk, some of its brightest globular clusters, dark dust lanes, and the large star cloud NGC 206. You may also notice that Andromeda's core is surrounded by two ringlets of galactic arms, which can be recognised by their central black ribbons of lumpy darkness.
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Frequently asked questions
The Andromeda Galaxy can be seen from anywhere in Australia, although it is better viewed from further north. To spot it, look for the constellation Cassiopeia, which looks like 5 stars in a "W" shape. The right side of the "W" points directly at the Andromeda Galaxy.
The December night sky offers the best view of distant galaxies, so this is probably the best time to try and spot Andromeda.
It is best to go somewhere with no light pollution, away from urban areas and street lights. You should also give your eyes 15 minutes to adjust to the dark, as the Andromeda Galaxy is not as bright as other stars around it.
