More Images of the Andromeda Galaxy
Optical Image of the Andromeda
This optical image of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) shows
the beautiful spiral structure of a spiral galaxy. M31
is our nearest neighbor spiral galaxy (outside of the
Milky Way), and therefore offers us a view of what the
Milky Way might look like if we could travel from our
current location in the middle of a Milky Way spiral
arm to a point high above our galaxy. The black square
in the center shows the size of the nuclear region
imaged by Chandra.
(Credit: Dr. M. Garcia, Dr. S.
Murray, Palomar Sky Survey)
This composite shows the optical image of M31 with an
inset consisting of the Chandra X-ray image of the
nucleus. An approximate temperature scale is also shown
for the X-ray image. In order to emit X-rays, gas must
be very hot: hotter than a million degrees Centigrade.
The gas falling into the super massive black hole in
the nucleus of M31 is cool only by comparison to the
other X-ray emitting stars and black holes nearby: They
are typically 20 million degrees!
(Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO;
Optical: M.Garcia, S.Murray, Palomar Sky Survey)
Return to Andromeda Galaxy (M31) (14 Jan 00)
Chandra X-ray Image with Scale
Scale bar = 5 arcsec