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pestapokalypse t1_jc1jxbu wrote

Reply to comment by I-melted in The largest NASA Hubble Space Telescope image ever assembled, this sweeping bird’s-eye view of a portion of the Andromeda galaxy. Credit: NASA, ESA by Davicho77

Yep! This composite illustrates its relative size pretty well. Andromeda would dominate the night sky.

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I-melted t1_jc1v5bz wrote

Oh dammit. That would be so cool.

I’m ashamed for not knowing, but where would I find it in the sky? In relation to the more obvious constellations?

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WaveofThought t1_jc297ue wrote

Its in the constellation Andromeda. I always find it by looking from the star Mirach to mu Andromidae, and following that path to about double its length.

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14domino t1_jc2nz0f wrote

Can someone who’s good at math tell me how big andromeda would have to be in the sky before it is this bright? (ie i assume in a few billion years as it gets closer it would get brighter and bigger)

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ElReptil t1_jc2qsbt wrote

> i assume in a few billion years as it gets closer it would get brighter and bigger

Bigger yes, but the surface brightness would actually stay the same (until you start to resolve individual stars). You would probably still be able to see more than you do now because the eye is better at seeing dim, large objects.

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