APOD 2.3

Andromeda Galaxy

This is M31, commonly known as the Andromeda Galaxy. This image spans over 200,000 ly, while the galaxy itself is an unfathomable two and a half million ly away from Earth. Scientists have discovered that this galaxy is hurling towards our own Milky Way and should collide with it within two billion years. This type of occurrence is actually common in the universe, but I chose this image mostly because Andromeda was one of this week's constellations and it will impact our world sooner or later. 

Site: Picture from APOD 

APOD 2.2

Galaxies in Pegasus 

In this large field of view are the scattered galaxies beyond the Norther part of the constellation Pegasus. The largest galaxy in the upper right is cataloged as NGC 733, which is 50 million ly away. In the lower left corner is the well-known Stephen's Quintet, a group of galaxies, about 300 million ly distant, that are all colliding together. 

I chose this picture because along with Pegasus, this week we had the constellation of Andromeda and within the next few billion years we will be colliding with a large galaxy just like those in the lower left. 

Site: Picture from APOD