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Andromeda Galaxy (M31)
(NASA/CXC/SAO)

The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is our nearest neighbor spiral galaxy at a distance of two million light years. This X-ray image shows the central portion of the Andromeda Galaxy. The blue dot in the center of the image is a "cool" million degree X-ray source where a supermassive black hole with the mass of 30 million suns is located. The X-rays are produced by matter funneling toward the black hole. Numerous other hotter X-ray sources are also apparent. Most of these are probably due to X-ray binary systems.
Andromeda Galaxy (M31) Photo Album Page

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Chandra X-Ray Observatory