The Andromeda galaxy is the nearest galaxy to our own Milky Way, approx. 2.5 million light years away. It contains over 1 trillion stars, and is expected to collide with the Milky Way in about 2.5 billion years. It is so large and bright that its glow can be seen with the naked eye on a clear night under dark skies. This photo is a composite of about 9.5 hours of exposure time over four nights in October 2023.