The picture shows the Andromeda galaxy (M31, also called the Andromeda nebula)
that belongs together with our own galaxy (the Milky Way) to the so-called local group,
although its distance is about 2.2 million lightyears (20.6 billion billion km
or 20.6 • 1018 km). Its diameter is about 163,000 lightyears
(1.5 billion billion km or 1.5 • 1018 km)
and our own galaxy might look a lot like this if viewed from a distance.
The stars in a galaxy revolve around the gravitational center
and our sun takes about 240 million years to complete its circle.
A man's average life span in Germany is about 75 years (women: 81 years),
so it would take 3.1 million lifes until the sun reached its previous position.
If we took one photo at the beginning and one at the end of our life,
the two pictures could not be distinguished.
I am at home here, but only for a relatively short time.
It is therefore only my temporary home.
Copyright © 2000 U. Messerle
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