The Andromeda Galaxy and Its Star Formation History

The state of knowledge of the properties of the Andromeda Galaxy (also known as M31) is reviewed. The spatial structure of the Andromeda Galaxy, its main source populations, and the properties of its gas and dust are discussed. To understand the formation history of the Andromeda Galaxy, the critical issues of its star formation history and the gas streams and dwarf galaxies in its surrounding environment are reviewed. Emphasis is on recent studies, with important earlier work described in the references provided here. It is important to understand the Andromeda Galaxy because it is the nearest large external galaxy and is close enough for high-resolution studies. This allows the Andromeda Galaxy to be used as a template for understanding more distant and less resolved galaxies in the universe.