More info about my photo: http://www.astroanarchy.blogspot.fi/2015/09/messier-31-m31-great-galaxy-of-andromeda.html

A starless version shows the galaxy structure. If we can leave our galaxy, the Milky Way, the M31 looks like this. All of the stars seen in image, belong to our home galaxy. There is 2,5 million light years nothing between Milky Way and Andromeda Galaxy. Few dim dots in the background are distant and dim galaxies.