UCL brings Andromeda galaxy into focus

UCL space scientists have brought Andromeda Galaxy, the most distant object visible to the naked eye, into focus with the highest-ever resolution ultraviolet image of this most famous external galaxy. The image - the most detailed ever taken of Andromeda in the ultraviolet - was made up of a 330 individual images in three ultraviolet colours, showing approximately 20,000 sources. The ultraviolet picks out the spiral arms where hot young stars are being born. Professor Mark Cropper, Head of the Astrophysics Group at UCL MSSL, explained: 'The instrument, Swift-UVOT, which is on NASA's Swift spacecraft, was built largely at UCL MSSL, and is the twin of a similar instrument operating on the European Space Agency's XMM-Newton mission. ?The photograph to the right shows UVOT at Goddard Space Flight Center, just before being integrated with the Swift satellite. UVOT is a 30cm telescope, 2m long and weighing approximately 100kg. 'Other partners in the project were Pennsylvania State University, Goddard Space Flight Center and Southwest Research Institute.' Professor Alan Smith, Director of UCL MSSL, added: 'We led the UK team and the instrument is a copy of a similar one still operating as part of the European Space Agency XMM-Newton Observatory.