Andromeda Galaxy over a tree. Andromeda (M31, upper centre) is the nearest large galaxy to our own. It is located 2.5 million light years away in the constellation of the same name. Mars (orange, right) is also seen. In the opposite direction, faint light from Milky Way galaxy is visible up to North America nebula, top edge of this vertical panorama. Photographed in Mertola, Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve, Portugal.