# @europeanspaceagency on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DHRxHjxMMJH
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/35582168-europeanspaceagency-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/0beee50392.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-03-16T22:50:00.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** J.L.Lopez (@xandler80) — https://gondola.cc/xandler80

## Caption

Hubble time! 🌌

Take a journey across 2.5 million light-years to the Andromeda galaxy (M31) in an animation based on real hubbleesa observations. 

At first glance, the Andromeda galaxy (M31) appears as a serene, glowing spindle of light. But look closer, and you’ll find a hidden cosmic ballet.

The wide-angle view reveals 36 satellite galaxies orbiting Andromeda, each circled in yellow. What’s remarkable? They all move in the same direction, confined to a vast, thin plane—an arrangement that challenges our understanding of how galaxies form and interact.

Thanks to Hubble, astronomers were able to map their positions in three-dimensional space, providing new insights into the structure of our cosmic neighbourhood.

Swipe through to see close-up snapshots of some of these galaxies, including M32 (NGC 221)—a compact ellipsoidal galaxy thought to be the core remnant of a once-larger galaxy that collided with Andromeda billions of years ago.

🖥️ NASA, europeanspaceagency, Christian Nieves (space_telescopes), Alessandro Savino (ucberkeleyofficial)
Acknowledgment: Joseph DePasquale (STScI), Frank Summers (STScI), Robert Gendler
📸 NASA, ESA, A. Savino (UC Berkeley), J. DePasquale (STScI), A. Fujii DSS2; creativecommons BY 4.0

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 12,066
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 52

## Credits

These are the roles credited on Gondola. Credits may be incomplete.
A brand, account owner, or featured person is not necessarily the creator.

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| ESA - European Space Agency | @europeanspaceagency | https://gondola.cc/europeanspaceagency | Government Organization |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Producer |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Editor |
| Hubble Space Telescope | @hubbleesa | https://gondola.cc/hubbleesa | Photographer |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Social Media Manager |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Publisher |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Copywriter |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Community Manager |

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