The diameter of the Andromeda galaxy is about 2.6 times the diameter of the Milky Way. Selected basis: approximate values.
Both rulers start at the same zero and share one linear scale. Artwork keeps its original proportions.
30.66 kpc - Diameter; approximate.
The Milky Way is a spiral galaxy containing hundreds of billions of stars, including our Solar System.
A rounded 100,000 light-year span of the stellar disk. Faint stars and the dark-matter halo extend farther; galaxies have no crisp rim.
NASA — Galaxies79.72 kpc - Diameter; approximate.
The Andromeda galaxy, also called M31, is the nearest large spiral galaxy to the Milky Way.
The 260,000 light-year extent is NASA’s ultraviolet-view reference. Diameters measured with another wavelength or brightness threshold differ.
NASA — The galaxy next door
There’s always another scale
SpaceMilky Way30.66 kpcThe Milky Way is a spiral galaxy containing hundreds of billions of stars, including our Solar System.SpaceAndromeda galaxy79.72 kpcThe Andromeda galaxy, also called M31, is the nearest large spiral galaxy to the Milky Way.
SpaceSun1,391,000 kmThe Sun is the star at the centre of the Solar System.
SpaceDistance to the galactic centre7.972 kpcThis is the distance from the Solar System to the centre of the Milky Way galaxy.
SpaceObservable universe28.21 GpcThe observable universe is the region from which light or other signals have had time to reach us since the early universe.SpaceDistance to Andromeda766.5 kpcThis is the distance between the Milky Way and the Andromeda galaxy, our nearest large galactic neighbour.
SpaceLocal Group3.066 MpcThe Local Group is a collection of galaxies that includes the Milky Way, Andromeda, and several smaller galaxies.Side by side
Illustrative artwork · not to scale
Illustrative artwork · not to scale
Illustrative artwork · not to scale
Illustrative artwork · not to scaleGot a good eye for scale?