Click here for a higher-resolution image

In the lower left of this image is NGC 891, an edge-on spiral galaxy in Andromeda that lies at a distance of about 30,000,000 light years. The shape and structure of NGC 891 is quite similar to our own galaxy, thus giving us an idea of what the Milky Way would look like from the outside. A number of smaller galaxies are visible in the upper right of the image, including four NGCs (898, 906, 909, and 911). Several of these are labeled with their names in the high-resolution image (see link above). This image is from a rather short exposure of just 1.75 hours total (60:15:15:15 minutes of LRGB).