Andromeda
Gateway to the nearest galaxy
Best on December–February evenings · northern sky.
Andromeda is a northern constellation best known as the home of the Andromeda Galaxy, the farthest thing the naked eye can see. It stretches out from the Great Square of Pegasus in a long diagonal chain of stars, and on a clear autumn or winter night it rewards both casual skywatchers and those ready to push their vision to its limits.
How to find it
On winter evenings, look high in the northern sky for the Great Square of Pegasus — four stars forming a large, nearly empty square. The top-left star of that square is actually Alpheratz, the brightest star in Andromeda, and from it two curving chains of stars arc away to the northeast like an open fan. Follow that main chain outward: Alpheratz, then Mirach, then Almach, and you've traced the princess from hip to foot.
Brightest stars
Alpheratz and Mirach share the lead at magnitude 2.06 — one anchoring the corner of the Great Square, the other marking the midpoint of the chain. Almach closes out the main line at magnitude 2.26, and it's a stunning color-contrast double for anyone with binoculars.
Worth seeing
On a dark night, look just above Mirach and nudge your gaze a little further north — the soft smudge you'll find is the Andromeda Galaxy, over two million light-years away and the most distant object visible to the unaided eye.
Frequently asked
When is Andromeda visible?
Andromeda is best seen on winter evenings, December through February, from the northern hemisphere, when it rides high in the north. It first becomes well-placed in autumn and remains accessible through early spring.
What are the brightest stars in Andromeda?
Alpheratz and Mirach are tied as the brightest at magnitude 2.06, followed closely by Almach at 2.26. These three form the main diagonal chain that defines the constellation.
Is Andromeda a northern or southern constellation?
Andromeda sits firmly in the northern sky and is best seen from the northern hemisphere. Southern observers can catch it low on the horizon from tropical latitudes, but it never climbs high enough to show off properly south of the equator.
Nearby constellations
Cassiopeia · Perseus · Pisces · Aries · Cepheus · Pegasus · Cygnus · Cetus