Andromeda Galaxy Satellite

-- christian mcfarquhar | July 28, 2020
Andromeda Galaxy

Question:

Hi,
I took an image of the Andromeda Galaxy and whilst editing it – noticed a mini-Andromeda – changing colours and hues etc in tandem with BIG Andromeda.

I see it in other online images of the Andromeda Galaxy – is it part of the Andromeda Galaxy – or something separate?

Link to the image is here: https://touchpromedia.co.uk/images/Andromeda-Galaxy-28.07.20.jpg

Thanks for your time

Chris
Northampton / UK

-- christian mcfarquhar

Answer:

I believe that the object to the lower-right in your image of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is one of its satellite galaxies, M101.  See the Andromeda Galaxy wikipedia page for further information.

-- Jeff Mangum