But it is an important question . The answer could give astronomers a better sense of whether the milky way is bound to collide with andromeda , and whether our galaxy is a typical one or an exception that might challenge cosmological models .
The observations show that oxygen and iron abound at the centre of the galaxy but not at its edge , which suggests spiral galaxies including andromeda and our own milky way formed their giant discs of stars from the inside out .
The most distant object you can see with your naked eye is the andromeda galaxy and even that is about 2.3 million light-years away which means you see it as it was 2.3 million years ago .