Optical photograph of M31, the Andromeda Galaxy (NGC 224). Located 2. 2 million light years from Earth, M31 is a giant spiral galaxy which dominates the insLocal Groupins of which our own Milky Way galaxy is a member. Taken through a 500mm lens, the photograph also shows M31's two small companion galaxies: the irregular galaxy NGC 205 is the diffuse blue area above & to the right of M31's centre, while the elliptical galaxy M32 (NGC 221) is the bright & slightly diffuse star-like object directly beneath M31's centre. 20 min. exposure, f/5, Fuji HR1600 film, 4 July, 1984, Anza Oca site.