The Andromeda Galaxy (M31)

Code: M31, NGC 224
Type: Spiral galaxy
Constellation: Andromeda
Distance from the Sun: 2.55 million ly

Andromeda is the Milky Way's closest neighbor and the closest spiral galaxy to the Solar System. In the sky, it covers an area twelve times larger than the full Moon, but its diffuse light makes it almost invisible to the naked eye.

Fun fact: Andromeda and the Milky Way are approaching each other at over 400,000 km/h. In about 4 billion years, they will merge to form a huge elliptical galaxy: "Milkomeda."