Andromeda galaxy: Find it by star-hopping from Pegasus

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Tonight, try star-hopping to the famous Andromeda Galaxy – the large spiral galaxy next door to our Milky Way – from the Great Square of Pegasus. Are you ready?

First, look overhead for the four stars of the Great Square. You’ll find them high in the sky a few hours after sunset around the December solstice. While the Great Square will sink toward the western horizon as evening deepens, this famous pattern of stars will remain in view until after midnight (at mid-northern latitudes).

Also, keep in mind the Great Square is so large that your hand can slip in between any two Great Square stars. By the way, you can hold your hand at arm’s length to measure distances on the sky’s dome.

Read more: The Andromeda Galaxy: All you need to know

Start with the Great Square of Pegasus

First, focus on the top star of the Great Square on the above sky chart. Next, if you look carefully, you’ll see the constellation Andromeda as two streamers of stars jutting up from this uppermost Great Square star. Also, the two streamers mimic the shape of a cornucopia or a bugle.

Then, go to the second star upward on each streamer: Mirach and Mu Andromedae (abbreviated Mu on the sky chart). After that, draw an imaginary line from Mirach through Mu, going twice the Mirach/Mu distance. Now, you’ve just landed on the Andromeda Galaxy!

In fact, on a dark night, the Andromeda Galaxy looks like a faint, blurry patch of light or a smudge on the sky. If you can’t see it with the unaided eye, your sky might not be dark enough.

Binoculars enhance the view

Binoculars are an excellent choice for beginners to observe the Andromeda Galaxy, because they are so easy to point. As you stand beneath a dark sky, locate the galaxy with your eye first. Then slowly bring the binoculars up to your eyes so that the galaxy comes into binocular view. If that doesn’t work for you, try sweeping the area with your binoculars. Go slowly, and be sure your eyes are dark-adapted. The galaxy will appear as a fuzzy patch to the eye. Naturally, it’ll appear brighter in binoculars. And can you see that its central region is more concentrated?

With the eye, binoculars, or with a backyard telescope, the Andromeda Galaxy won’t look like the images from famous telescopes and observatories. But it will be beautiful. Plus, it’ll take your breath away.

Try binoculars for a better view!

The Andromeda Galaxy from our Community Photos

Bottom line: The four stars of the Great Square of Pegasus are easy to find, and they can help you locate the Andromeda Galaxy. Are you ready? Let’s star-hop!

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Read more: Cassiopeia points to the Andromeda Galaxy