Astronomy Picture of the Day . ... Martian Analemma . ... On planet Earth, an analemma is the figure-8 loop you get when you mark the position of the Sun at the same time each day throughout the year. ... The Great Spiral Galaxy in Andromeda (aka M31), a mere 2.5 million light-years distant, is the closest large spiral to our own Milky Way. ... An analemma is that figure-8 curve you get when you mark the position of the Sun at the same time each day throughout planet Earth's year. ...