# Galaxies and constellations

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/galaxies-and-constellations/401734>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [April 26, 2007, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/galaxies-and-constellations/401734 "2007-04-26T14:04:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\
**Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/galaxies-and-constellations/401734/1 "2007-04-26T14:04:30Z")

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In Cecil’s pithy explanation of [the difference between galaxies and constellations,](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_350.html) I think it would have been helpful to add that all the constellations we see (with the naked eye) are WITHIN our own galaxy – relatively close to us, in other words – while the only galaxy we can see with the naked eye, Andromeda\*, is MUCH further away (and other gelaxies we see with telescopes are much further still).

(\*I guess the Magellanic Clouds would count, too, for Southern Hemisphere observers.)