M31, the Great Andromeda Galaxy, the brightest and closest of all the 
spirals, and the only one that can be considered a definite, obvious, 
naked eye object.  One of the most impressive objects in the heavens, it 
has been known at least as far back as 905 A.D., and was mentioned by 
the Persian astronomer Al Sufi in the 10th Century.  The Andromeda 
Galaxy is a type Sb spiral at a distance of approximately 2.2 million 
light years, and the diameter is approximately 110,000 light years.  It 
may be classified as one of the largest galaxies known, since the 
majority of known spirals are less than half this size. 

The companion elliptical galaxy M32 can be seen just to the left of 
center near the bottom of the photograph.  It appears as a "fuzzy blob", 
somewhat larger than the brightest background stars. 

Object: M31 (NGC 224)
Coordinates: Right Ascension 00hr 40.0m, Declination +41deg 00m
Constellation: Andromeda
Size: 160 x 40 minutes of arc
Magnitude: 4

Telescope focal length: 500mm
Telescope aperture: 80mm
Camera: Santa Barbara Instruments ST-6
Exposure: 560s (28 @ 20s)
Observer(s): Dr. Greg Latta and Don Maxwell