Our neighboring spiral, the Andromeda Galaxy (M31), lies about 2.5 million light-years away and dominates this detailed composite image. Captured over seven clear nights in September for a total of more than 27 hours of exposure, the frame combines HOO and RGB data to reveal the galaxy’s structure in striking color. The rich red knots scattered along the spiral arms mark vast H II regions—nebulae of ionized hydrogen where new stars are forming. Dust lanes and bluish star clusters trace Andromeda’s immense disk, while its small companion M110 glows below.

Andromeda is the largest member of the Local Group and is moving toward the Milky Way at over 100 km per second. In roughly four billion years, the two galaxies are expected to merge into a single giant elliptical system. This image, blending natural color with narrowband enhancement, highlights both the galaxy’s familiar beauty and its dynamic role in the ongoing evolution of our galactic neighborhood.