Andromeda Galaxy Facts for Kids

A Picture of the Andromeda Galaxy
  • Name: Andromeda Galaxy
  • Type of Galaxy: Spiral Galaxy
  • Estimated Size: 220 kilolight-years (diameter)
  • Estimated Stars: ± 1 trillion stars
  • Distance from Earth: 2.5 million light-years
  • Discovered: Around the year 964
  • Discovered by: Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi

14 Andromeda Galaxy Facts for Kids

  1. Andromeda is a barred spiral galaxy in our universe.
  2. The Andromeda Galaxy is also known as M31, Messier 31 and NGC 224.
  3. Andromeda was once known as the Andromeda Nebula.
  4. The Andromeda Galaxy was first observed by Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi in the year 964.
  5. Astronomers believe the Andromeda Galaxy formed around 10 billion years ago.
  6. The Andromeda Galaxy is located within the constellation of Andromeda.
  7. The Andromeda Galaxy has an estimated diameter of 220 kilolight-years.
  8. The Andromeda Galaxy is around 2.5 million light-years from Earth.
  9. The Andromeda Galaxy is the closest major galaxy to ours, the Milky Way.
  10. Astronomers estimate the Andromeda Galaxy has around one trillion stars.
  11. The Andromeda Galaxy has the largest diameter of all the galaxies in the Local Group.
  12. The Andromeda Galaxy has 14 known satellite galaxies, these are known as dwarf galaxies.
  13. You can view the Andromeda Galaxy without the aid of a telescope on moonless nights.
  14. The Andromeda Galaxy and Milky Way Galaxy will collide with each other in about 4.5 billion years and form a new elliptical or lenticular galaxy.

Additional Resources with Andromeda Galaxy Facts

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