Object Information:	M31 (The Andromeda Galaxy), Constellation - Andromeda Distance -  approximately 2,000,000 light years,   The Andromeda Galaxy is a naked eye object at moderately dark locations. It can easily be seen with binoculars as a bright fuzzy patch between the constellations Cassiopeia and Pegasus.  At a distance of 2 million light years, the Andromeda Galaxy is the nearest large spiral galaxy to our own Milky Way.  This galaxy is thought to be very similar in size and shape to the Milky Way.  It is approximately 150,000 light years in diameter with a mass of approximately  200-300 billion suns. The two companion galaxies of M31 can also be seen in this photograph.  M32 is the white smudge just above the plane of the galaxy and to the left of center.  M32 is estimated to be approximately 6,000 light years in diameter.  M110 can be seen directly below M31.  Both are elliptical galaxies and are gravitationally bound to M31.
Imaged at:	San Diego Astronomy Association Site in Tierra Del Sol, San Diego County, California. Elevation - 4000 feet
Equipment:	Optics - Takahashi E-160 at f/3.3 Mount - Losmandy G-11, Camera - Nikon FM2 35 mm, Guiding Camera - SBIG STV
Exposure Information:	August 26, 2001, September 16, 2001 A median combination of four 25 minute exposures on hypered Kodak PPF 400, Film - Hypered Kodak PPF 400
Camera Control Software:	N/A
Image Processing Software:	All data frames were scanned at 4000 dpi with a Polaroid Sprint Scan 4000 then registered and stacked with Registar using the "median" option.  Final processing and re-sampling for web publication was performed with Photoshop 6.01.