Edwin Hubble’s view of Andromeda

Positive image of Andromeda

This image represents what the galaxy looked like when viewed through the telescope. Many astronomers look at negative photographic prints to make their most detailed observations. In the negative, everything that is usually white looks black and vice-versa. Astronomers like to look at negative images because it is easier to see fine details and to pick out individual stars.

Negative image taken by Hubble

Courtesy Mt. Wilson Observatory

Hubble used this first image, taken by the 100-inch telescope, to look for stars within Andromeda. When he realized that one of them was a variable star, he made a special note of it right on the image.