Simulated Image of a Portion of the Andromeda Galaxy Highlights (IMAGE)

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Simulated Image of a Portion of the Andromeda Galaxy Highlights

Caption

This simulated image of a portion of the Andromeda galaxy highlights the high resolution, large field of view, and unique footprint of NASA's upcoming Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST). Made using data from the Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury (PHAT) program, the image spans approximately 34,000 light-years, or about 1/5 of the full disk of Andromeda, showcasing the red and near-infrared light of more than 50 million individual stars. Red and green represent near-infrared light, while blue represents visible red light. The image runs from the edge of the bright core of the galaxy on the lower left, out along and across several of the galaxy's spiral arms in the middle and right.

Credit

NASA, STScI and B.F. Williams (University of Washington)

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