Upsilon Andromedae is a binary star located 44 light-years from Earth in the constellation of Andromeda. The system consists of an F-type main-sequence star and a smaller red dwarf.
Artist's conception of the planets of Upsilon Andromedae
Image: Upsilon Andromedae A System (NASA, ESA)
Andromeda (constellation)
Andromeda is one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century Greco-Roman astronomer Ptolemy, and one of the 88 modern constellations. Located in the northern celestial hemisphere, it is named for Andromeda, daughter of Cassiopeia, in the Greek myth, who was chained to a rock to be eaten by the sea monster Cetus. Andromeda is most prominent during autumn evenings in the Northern Hemisphere, along with several other constellations named for characters in the Perseus myth. Because of its northern declination, Andromeda is visible only north of 40° south latitude; for observers farther south, it lies below the horizon. It is one of the largest constellations, with an area of 722 square degrees. This is over 1,400 times the size of the full moon, 55% of the size of the largest constellation, Hydra, and over 10 times the size of the smallest constellation, Crux.
Andromeda as depicted in Urania's Mirror, a set of constellation cards published in London c. 1825, showing the constellation from the inside of the celestial sphere
Photo of the constellation Andromeda, as it appears to the naked eye. Lines have been added for clarity.
M31, the Great Galaxy of Andromeda.
Sharp view of the Andromeda Galaxy
