The M31 Andromeda Galaxy is a spiral galaxy in Andromeda, shown here with its two companion elliptical galaxies M32 and M110.

Andromeda is our nearest large neighbouring galaxy and is visible to the naked eye even under moderate conditions. It is estimated to be about 2.9 million light years away and about 250,000 light years across its diameter.

M32 is an elliptical dwarf with only about 3 billion stars and a diameter of 8,000 light years. Towards the centre of this galaxy the stars become extremely concentrated. Around the nucleus, about 100 million stars move rapidly about a central massive object thought posssibly to be a black hole.

Under very good conditions the Triangulum galaxy can be seen with the naked eye. Except for a few people with extremely good sight, at 3 million light years distance, this is the furthest object visible to the naked eye. It is outstanding in good binoculars, but as its considerable total brightness is distributed quite evenly over an area of nearly four times that covered by the full Moon, its surface brightness is extremely low. Therefore, it is difficult to view this galaxy in telescopes which do not allow low magnification.

The M34 open cluster lies about 1,400 light years distance, has about 100 stars and is estimated to be about 180 million years old. It can be resolved into stars by 10x50 binoculars and is best at low magnification in telescopes.

The M35 open cluster in Gemini at 5.1 magnitude is a distance of 2,800 light years. The cluster has more than 500 stars and is thought to be about 100 million years old.

Visible to the naked eye under good conditions, this cluster is found near the three foot stars of Gemini and begins to be resolved in binoculars upwards.