M31: The Andromeda Galaxy . ... Credit Copyright: Jacob Bers ( Bersonic ) Explanation: Andromeda is the nearest major galaxy to our own Milky Way Galaxy . Our Galaxy is thought to look much like Andromeda . ... The diffuse light from Andromeda is caused by the hundreds of billions of stars that compose it. The several distinct stars that surround Andromeda 's image are actually stars in our Galaxy that are well in front of the background object. ... NASA Official: Jay Norris. ...