The Andromeda Galaxy (M31): a bright oval core wrapped in tilted spiral arms, with the small companion galaxies M32 and M110 nearby, in a hydrogen-alpha filtered long exposure.
Beginner stargazing

How to find the Andromeda Galaxy with your naked eye

The most distant thing you can see without any equipment is a galaxy 2.5 million light-years away, and autumn is the season to find it. The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) climbs into the evening sky through September and October, and from a reasonably dark spot it looks like a small, elongated grey smudge in the constellation Andromeda. No telescope, no binoculars, no app subscription. Just your eyes, a little patience, and knowing where to point them. ...

August 17, 2026 · 7 min · Andreas Ioannou