Andromeda
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Galaxy

NGC 4636

Also PGC 42734

Open in OuranosCompare its size

An elliptical galaxy: a smooth ball of mostly old stars.

Measured

Distance
about 47.9 million light-years (published estimates 45.8 million–47.9 million)
Size
about 88,600 light-years across (approximate)
Constellation
Virgo
Position (J2000)
RA 12h 42m 50s, Dec +2.69°

How far, from the Sun

About 47.9 million light-years. To cross it:

  • Light47.9 million years
  • Voyager 1's speed852 billion years
  • Driving at 100 km/h517 trillion years

Voyager 1 at the speed it moved outward over the year to 2026-10-25 (JPL Horizons). Driving: nonstop, never refuelling.

Facts

  • About 48 million light years away; catalogues put it between 46 million and 48 million.
  • About 89,000 light years across, at the distance above.

Where this comes from

  • Distance from z0MGS (Leroy et al. 2019, ApJS 244, 24); range with HyperLEDA's best distance modulus; size from HyperLEDA's D25 at that distance
  • This research has made use of the SIMBAD database, CDS, Strasbourg, France (Wenger et al. 2000, A&AS 143, 9).
  • This research has made use of the VizieR catalogue access tool, CDS, Strasbourg, France (DOI: 10.26093/cds/vizier).

Every catalogue Ouranos draws is credited on the credits page.