[3][4] The image depicts the right-most side[discuss] of the Andromeda Galaxy's galactic disc in visible light,[5][6] and the displayed section is approximately 61,000 light-years across.

[7][9][10] In the bottom-left of the image is the galaxy's nucleus, and dust lanes are also visible.

[11] Several other deep-space objects are visible in the image, including background galaxies.

[12][13] The final composite was stitched together using 411 exposures taken from July 2010 to October 2013,[14] and the image was first displayed at the 225th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Seattle, Washington.

[2] The image has been used to help astronomers detect more Andromeda-like spiral galaxies using light.