Andromeda

Andromeda is our largest and closest galactic neighbour and can be easily seen with the naked eye as a silvery smudge from a good dark sky location. It is about 2.5 million light years away, 220,000 light years in diameter (twice the size of our own Milkyway) and home to 1 trillion stars. Andromeda always reminds me of the notable Irish engineer, with the coolest name ever, Bindon Blood Stoney. Prior to his work as an engineer Blood Stoney assisted the Earl of Rosse at the observatory in Birr Castle, Co. Offaly, Ireland. Birr Castle was home to the “Leviathan”. A 72-inch telescope and the biggest in the world at the time and for 70 years after its construction. Here Stoney accurately mapped...View all