REMEMBER LAST WEEK WHEN WE FOUND THE SHARED
STAR ALPHERATZ IN ANDROMEDA?

KNOWING ALPHERATZ MAKES IT EASY WAY TO FIND
THE ANDROMEDA GALAXY, THE MOST DISTANT OBJECT

THAT YOU CAN SEE WITH YOUR BARE EYES.

HERE S ALPHERATZ IN THE WESTERN SKY AT 11PM.

REMEMBER ITS AT THE MEETING POINT OF THE GREAT
SQUARE OF PEGASUS AND ANDROMEDA.

FROM THERE, LOOK FOR MIRACH [mir-ahk] AND
MU -- THE SECOND PAIR OF STARS ALONG ANDROMEDA S

SPIKE.

FROM THOSE TWO STARS YOU CAN DRAW A SHORT
LINE AND BAM!

THAT FUZZY-LOOKING SPOT IS GALAXY M31 -- ANDROMEDA.

5 IT S EVEN BETTER WITH BINOCULARS.

THE ANDROMEDA GALAXY IS THE CLOSEST LARGE
SPIRAL GALAXY TO US

HERE IN THE MILKY WAY.

IT S 40 PERCENT LARGER TOO, AND

IN ABOUT 4 BILLION YEARS

ANDROMEDA AND THE MILKY WAY WILL COLLIDE!

BUT DON T WORRY, GALAXIES ARE MOSTLY EMPTY
SPACE, SO IT WON T AFFECT YOUR DISTANT GRANDCHILDREN

TOO MUCH, BUT I BET THEIR SKIES
WILL BE FANTASTIC -- SO HOPEFULLY YOU BOTH

WILL KEEP LOOKING UP!