Here is another of my practice images using raw image data generously offered by Jim Misti. One of these days I hope to be acquiring my own photons again. But in the meantime, here is my version of the Andromeda Galaxy, about the size of our Milky Way and on a collision course with our home galaxy. Fortunately, you may have to wait for, say, 4 or 5 billion years for the clash, but it should be a dandy!

Image acquisition by Jim Misti

From the all-knowing Wikipedia,

Andromeda is the largest galaxy of the Local Group, which consists of the Andromeda Galaxy, the Milky Way Galaxy, the Triangulum Galaxy, and about 30 other smaller galaxies. Although the largest, Andromeda may not be the most massive, as recent findings suggest that the Milky Way contains more dark matter and may be the most massive in the grouping.

So it may be a contest of two huge black holes, to see which one will suck the other into its maw. (That may not be accurate astronomy, but it’s an interesting image.)

Dave, happy not to observe this particular collision.