Andromeda Galaxy with DESI Overlay and Spectrum

The disk of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31), which spans more than 3 degrees across the sky, is targeted by a single DESI pointing, represented by the large circular overlay. The smaller circles within this overlay represent the regions accessible to each of the 5000 DESI robotic fiber positioners. In this sample, the 5000 spectra that were simultaneously collected by DESI include not only stars within the Andromeda Galaxy, but also distant galaxies and quasars. The example DESI spectrum that overlays this image is of a distant quasar that is 11 billion years old.

Credit:

DESI collaboration/DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys/LBNL/DOE & KPNO/CTIO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/unWISE

About the Image

Id:noirlab2117b
Type:Artwork
Release date:May 17, 2021, 6:45 a.m.
Related releases:noirlab2117
Size:13910 x 7576 px

About the Object

Name:M31
Category:Illustrations

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