How far away is the galaxy from the earth

[Surreygirl30]

It is reported in the metro that the galaxy is only 28million miles from earth � this sounds like a very wrong figure. However, how far away is it? Does anyone know?

[jake-the-peg]

Yes 28 million miles would scarecely get you to Venus on a good day

Rather depends which galaxy they're talking about.

We are about 26,000 light years from the centre of our galaxy

The Andromeda Galaxy is 2.9 million light-yeras away from us - could they have missed a decimal point and mixed up miles and light years I wonder

A light year is something like 6,000,000,000,000 miles

[Surreygirl30]

wow great reply - many thanks :-)

[OBonio]

As JTP says, which galaxy are they talking about? If they're talking about our galaxy, then travelling 28 million miles would... leave you still in our galaxy. Just passed South Mimms services.

[Bazile]

They were talking about the M104 galaxy - unofficially named the ' Sombrero' galaxy - picture captured by the Hubble telescope , and voted the year's no.1space image , in a stargazer's poll .

I'm no expert in astronomy , but i'm sure 28 million miles is incorrect - afterall in terms of space this distance would be ' just up the road'

[mibn2cweus]

The Sombrero Galaxy M104 mentioned by Bazile is
28 million light years from Earth.

[mibn2cweus]

. . . select print size of Hubble image Here

[jake-the-peg]

28 million light years away ans still 1/5 the size of the full moon in the sky!

Hello big boy! - I guess we know who ate all the pies now!

[mibn2cweus]

Maybe this one got it right?

jake-the-peg, Check out the release video on this one: Pinwheel Galaxy