Andromeda Galaxy M31. Our nearest galactic neighbor lies 2.2 million years from earth and is 185,000 light years in diameter. The small galaxies M110 and M32 flank the giant M31. M31 is one of the furthest objects that can be seen by the naked eye. This exposure is from the dark skies of Summit County in Colorado at an altitude of 10,400 feet. Pentax 105SHDF APO with TV .80 reducer, Canon 10D, a stack of 20 exposures 90- 240 sec.