# What are those two stars blocking my view of the andromeda galaxy?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-two-stars-blocking-my-view-of-the-andromeda-galaxy/170642>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 23, 2003, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-two-stars-blocking-my-view-of-the-andromeda-galaxy/170642 "2003-04-23T17:53:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ready29003](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@ready29003](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ready29003)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-two-stars-blocking-my-view-of-the-andromeda-galaxy/170642/1 "2003-04-23T17:53:26Z")

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In every photo of the Andromeda Galaxy there are two stars on the edge of the galactic disk that I think are in the foreground.

What are these two stars and how far away are they? I have a big poster of andromeda and I like to know what i am looking at.

Thanks,

Matt

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**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-two-stars-blocking-my-view-of-the-andromeda-galaxy/170642/2 "2003-04-23T18:04:52Z")

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Obligatory [link here.](http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap991114.html)

I assume you are talking about the two objects visible in that image, one above and one below the body of Andromeda. If so, they are M-110, and M-32. Both are smaller, companion galaxies that (I believe) are in orbit around Andromeda.

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**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-two-stars-blocking-my-view-of-the-andromeda-galaxy/170642/3 "2003-04-23T18:11:05Z")

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Like the Magellanic clouds around our galaxy?

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**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-two-stars-blocking-my-view-of-the-andromeda-galaxy/170642/4 "2003-04-23T20:40:30Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by toadspittle \*  
> \*\*Like the Magellanic clouds around our galaxy? \*\*

Yes.

Actually, according to [this](http://burro.astr.cwru.edu/Academics/Astr222/Galaxy/Environ/localgroup.html) there are around 15 dwarf galaxies in orbit around the Milky Way (huh! I didn’t know that!).

Also note, at the bottom of my cite (in this post), the text in relation to the movement of Andromeda:

> [@](#):
>
> Radial Velocity: -200 km/s – _ **incoming!** _

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-two-stars-blocking-my-view-of-the-andromeda-galaxy/170642/5 "2003-04-23T20:48:30Z")

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So, Andromdea’s going to hit us? That’s gonna leave a mark.