Skip to content

Andromeda

Brightest star: Alpheratz

Andromeda hosts the M31 galaxy, the farthest object visible to the naked eye (2.5 million light-years). You literally see the light as it was when our ancestors were still Australopithecus. Alpheratz, its alpha star, was once shared with Pegasus.

When to see it

Visible autumn–winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

Mythology

Andromeda, daughter of Cassiopeia, was chained to a rock as a sacrifice to the sea monster Cetus to appease Poseidon. Perseus, flying overhead on Pegasus, saw her, saved her, and married her.

Gift idea

Andromeda tells a story of love and rescue — perfect symbolism for a wedding gift, proposal, or an anniversary that commemorates the moment two lives crossed.

Create my star map