The galaxy NGC 7331 is just one of many seen by amateur skywatchers from Arizona’s Kitt Peak Observatory.

NGC 7331 sits about 50 million light-years from Earth and has been billed as a twin of our own Milky Way galaxy because of its similar mass, star count and spiral arm shapes.

Astronomers believe the galaxy spans about 30,000 light-years. In this clear view of NGC 7331, several of its neighboring galaxies – both spiral and elliptical – can be seen in the background.

Skywatchers Paul Mortfield and Dietmar Kupke recorded this view of NGC 7331 on Oct. 4 during a nightly observing program run by Kitt Peak.

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-- SPACE.com Staff

Credit: Paul Mortfield and Dietmar Kupke/NOAO/AURA/NSF