APOD: 2023 July 20 - M64: The Black Eye Galaxy Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 July 20 M64: The Black Eye Galaxy Close Up Image Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble,HLA; Processing: Jonathan Lodge Explanation: This magnificent spiral galaxy isMessier 64,often called the Black Eye Galaxy or theSleeping Beauty Galaxyfor itsdark-lidded appearancein telescopic views.The spiral's central region,about 7,400 light-years across, is pictured in thisreprocessed image from the Hubble Space Telescope.M64 lies some 17 million light-years distant in theotherwise well-groomed northern constellationComa Berenices.The enormous dust clouds partially obscuringM64's central regionare laced with young, blue star clusters and thereddish glow of hydrogen associated with star forming regions. But imposing clouds of dust are not this galaxy's only peculiar feature.Observations show that M64 is actuallycomposed of two concentric, counter-rotating systems.While all the stars in M64 rotate in the same direction as theinterstellar gas in the galaxy's central region, gas in the outerregions, extending to about 40,000 light-years, rotates inthe opposite direction.The dusty eyeand bizarre rotation are likely the result of abillion year old merger of two different galaxies. Tomorrow's picture: pixels in space<| Archive| Submissions |...

The combined light of

Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 July 20 M64: The Black Eye Galaxy Close Up Image Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble,HLA; Processing: Jonathan Lodge Explanation: This magnificent spiral galaxy isMessier 64,often called the Black Eye Galaxy or theSleeping Beauty Galaxyfor itsdark-lidded appearancein telescopic views.The spiral's central region,about 7,400 light-years across, is pictured in thisreprocessed image from the Hubble Space Telescope.M64 lies some 17 million light-years distant in theotherwise well-groomed northern constellationComa Berenices.The enormous dust clouds partially obscuringM64's central regionare laced with young, blue star clusters and thereddish glow of hydrogen associated with star forming regions. But imposing clouds of dust are not this galaxy's only peculiar feature.Observations show that M64 is actuallycomposed of two concentric, counter-rotating systems.While all the stars in M64 rotate in the same direction as theinterstellar gas in the galaxy's central region, gas in the outerregions, extending to about 40,000 light-years, rotates inthe opposite direction.The dusty eyeand bizarre rotation are likely the result of abillion year old merger of two different galaxies. Tomorrow's picture: pixels in space<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education|...

APOD: 2023 July 13 - Webb's Rho Ophiuchi Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 July 13 Webb's Rho Ophiuchi Image Credit:NASA,ESA,CSA,STScI,Klaus Pontoppidan (STScI),Processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI) Explanation: A mere 390 light-years away,Sun-like stars and future planetary systems are forming inthe Rho Ophiuchi molecular cloud complex,the closest star-forming region to our fair planet.The James Webb Space Telescope's NIRCam peeredinto the nearby natal chaosto capture this infrared image atan inspiring scale.The spectacular cosmic snapshot was released to celebrate the successfulfirst year ofWebb's explorationof the Universe.The frame spansless than a light-year across the Rho Ophiuchi regionand contains about 50 young stars.Brighter stars clearly sport Webb's characteristic pattern ofdiffraction spikes.Huge jets of shocked molecular hydrogenblasting fromnewborn stars are red in the image, withthe large, yellowish dusty cavity carved out by the energeticyoung star near its center.Near some stars in the stunning image are shadows cast by theirprotoplanetary disks. Tomorrow's picture: pixels in space<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Phillip NewmanSpecific rights apply.NASA WebPrivacy Policy and Important NoticesA service of:ASD atNASA...

Comet C/2023 E1 ATLAS near Perihelion

Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 July 15 Webb's First Deep Field Image Credit: NASA,ESA,CSA,STScI,NIRCam Explanation: This stunning infrared imagewas releasedone year agoas the James Webb Space Telescope began its exploration of the cosmos.The viewof theearly Universetoward the southern constellation Volanswas achieved in 12.5 hours of exposure with Webb's NIRCam instrument.Of course the stars with six spikes are well within our ownMilky Way.Their diffractionpattern is characteristic of Webb's 18 hexagonal mirrorsegments operating together as a single 6.5 meter diameter primarymirror.The thousands of galaxies flooding the field of view are members of thedistant galaxy cluster SMACS0723-73, some 4.6 billion light-years away.Luminous arcs that seem to infest the deep field areeven more distant galaxies though.Their images are distorted and magnified by thedark matter dominated mass of the galaxy cluster, an effectknown as gravitational lensing.Analyzing lightfrom two separate arcs below the bright spiky star,Webb's NIRISS instrument indicates the arcsare both images of the same background galaxy.And that galaxy's light took about 9.5 billion years to reach theJames Webb Space Telescope. Tomorrow's picture: view with a thrill<| Archive| Submissions | Index|...

APOD: 2023 July 13 - Webb s Rho Ophiuchi Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 July 13 Webb's Rho Ophiuchi Image Credit:NASA,ESA,CSA,STScI,Klaus Pontoppidan (STScI),Processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI) Explanation: A mere 390 light-years away,Sun-like stars and future planetary systems are forming inthe Rho Ophiuchi molecular cloud complex,the closest star-forming region to our fair planet.The James Webb Space Telescope's NIRCam peeredinto the nearby natal chaosto capture this infrared image atan inspiring scale.The spectacular cosmic snapshot was released to celebrate the successfulfirst year ofWebb's explorationof the Universe.The frame spansless than a light-year across the Rho Ophiuchi regionand contains about 50 young stars.Brighter stars clearly sport Webb's characteristic pattern ofdiffraction spikes.Huge jets of shocked molecular hydrogenblasting fromnewborn stars are red in the image, withthe large, yellowish dusty cavity carved out by the energeticyoung star near its center.Near some stars in the stunning image are shadows cast by theirprotoplanetary disks. Tomorrow's picture: pixels in space<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Phillip NewmanSpecific rights apply.NASA WebPrivacy Policy and Important NoticesA service of:ASD...

Comet C 2023 E1 ATLAS near Perihelion

Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 July 13 Webb's Rho Ophiuchi Image Credit:NASA,ESA,CSA,STScI,Klaus Pontoppidan (STScI),Processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI) Explanation: A mere 390 light-years away,Sun-like stars and future planetary systems are forming inthe Rho Ophiuchi molecular cloud complex,the closest star-forming region to our fair planet.The James Webb Space Telescope's NIRCam peeredinto the nearby natal chaosto capture this infrared image atan inspiring scale.The spectacular cosmic snapshot was released to celebrate the successfulfirst year ofWebb's explorationof the Universe.The frame spansless than a light-year across the Rho Ophiuchi regionand contains about 50 young stars.Brighter stars clearly sport Webb's characteristic pattern ofdiffraction spikes.Huge jets of shocked molecular hydrogenblasting fromnewborn stars are red in the image, withthe large, yellowish dusty cavity carved out by the energeticyoung star near its center.Near some stars in the stunning image are shadows cast by theirprotoplanetary disks. Tomorrow's picture: pixels in space<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Phillip NewmanSpecific rights apply.NASA WebPrivacy Policy and Important NoticesA service of:ASD atNASA /GSFC& Michigan Tech....

APOD: 2023 July 7 - The Double Cluster in Perseus Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 July 7 The Double Cluster in Perseus Image Credit &Copyright: Mårten Frosth Explanation: This pretty starfieldspans about three full moons (1.5 degrees)across the heroic northern constellation ofPerseus.It holds the famouspair of open star clusters,h and Chi Persei.Also cataloged asNGC 869 (top)and NGC 884,both clusters are about 7,000 light-years away andcontain stars much younger and hotter than the Sun. Separated by only a few hundred light-years, the clusters areboth 13 million years youngbased onthe ages of theirindividual stars,evidence that they were likely a product of the same star-forming region.Always a rewardingsight in binoculars,the Double Cluster is even visible to the unaided eye fromdark locations. Tomorrow's picture: doomed moon<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Phillip NewmanSpecific rights apply.NASA WebPrivacy Policy and Important NoticesA service of:ASD atNASA /GSFC& Michigan Tech. U.

Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 July 8 Stickney Crater Image Credit: HiRISE, MRO, LPL (U. Arizona), NASA Explanation: Stickney Crater, the largest crater on the martian moon Phobos,is named forChloe Angeline StickneyHall,mathematician andwife of astronomer Asaph Hall.Asaph Hall discovered both theRed Planet's moons in 1877.Over 9 kilometers across, Stickney is nearly half thediameter of Phobos itself, so large that theimpact that blasted out the crater likely came closeto shattering the tiny moon.This enhanced-color imageof Stickney and surroundingswas recorded by the HiRISE camera onboard theMars Reconnaissance Orbiter as it passed within somesix thousand kilometersof Phobos in March of 2008.Even though the surface gravity ofasteroid-like Phobosis less than 1/1000th Earth's gravity, streaks suggest loosematerial slid down inside the crater walls over time.Light bluish regions near the crater's rim could indicatea relatively freshly exposed surface.The origin of the curious grooves along the surface ismysterious but may be related to tidal stresses experienced byclose-orbiting Phobos orthe crater-forming impact itself. Tomorrow's picture: doomed star<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU)...

APOD: 2023 July 6 - Fireworks vs Supermoon Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 July 6 Fireworks vs Supermoon Image Credit &Copyright: Michael Seeley Explanation: On July 4, an almost Full Moon rosein planet Earth'sevening skies.Also known as a Buck Moon, the full lunar phase (full on July 3at 11:39 UTC) was near perigee,the closest point in the Moon'salmost monthly orbit around planet Earth.That qualifiedthis July's Full Moon as a supermoon,the first offour supermoons in 2023.Seen from Cocoa Beach along Florida'sSpace Coast on July 4,any big, bright, beautiful Full Moon would stillhave to compete for attention though.July's super-moonrise was captured hereagainst a super-colorful fireworks display. Tomorrow's picture: pixels in space<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Phillip NewmanSpecific rights apply.NASA WebPrivacy Policy and Important NoticesA service of:ASD atNASA /GSFC& Michigan Tech. U.

Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 July 7 The Double Cluster in Perseus Image Credit &Copyright: Mårten Frosth Explanation: This pretty starfieldspans about three full moons (1.5 degrees)across the heroic northern constellation ofPerseus.It holds the famouspair of open star clusters,h and Chi Persei.Also cataloged asNGC 869 (top)and NGC 884,both clusters are about 7,000 light-years away andcontain stars much younger and hotter than the Sun. Separated by only a few hundred light-years, the clusters areboth 13 million years youngbased onthe ages of theirindividual stars,evidence that they were likely a product of the same star-forming region.Always a rewardingsight in binoculars,the Double Cluster is even visible to the unaided eye fromdark locations. Tomorrow's picture: light-weekend<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Phillip NewmanSpecific rights apply.NASA WebPrivacy Policy and Important NoticesA service of:ASD atNASA /GSFC& Michigan Tech. U.

Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 July 6 Fireworks vs Supermoon Image Credit &Copyright: Michael Seeley Explanation: On July 4, an almost Full Moon rosein planet Earth'sevening skies.Also known as a Buck Moon, the full lunar phase (full on July 3at 11:39 UTC) was near perigee,the closest point in the Moon'salmost monthly orbit around planet Earth.That qualifiedthis July's Full Moon as a supermoon,the first offour supermoons in 2023.Seen from Cocoa Beach along Florida'sSpace Coast on July 4,any big, bright, beautiful Full Moon would stillhave to compete for attention though.July's super-moonrise was captured hereagainst a super-colorful fireworks display. Tomorrow's picture: pixels in space<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Phillip NewmanSpecific rights apply.NASA WebPrivacy Policy and Important NoticesA service of:ASD atNASA /GSFC& Michigan Tech. U.

Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 July 1 Three Galaxies in Draco Image Credit &Copyright: David Vernet , Jean-François Bax , Serge Brunier,OCA/C2PU Explanation: This tantalizing trio of galaxies sometimes called the Draco Group,is located in the northern constellation of (you guessed it)Draco, the Dragon.From left to right areface-on spiral NGC 5985,elliptical galaxy NGC 5982, andedge-on spiral NGC 5981,all found within thissingle telescopic field of view that spans a little more thanthe width of the full moon.While the group is far too small to be agalaxy cluster,and has not beencataloguedas a compact galaxy group,the three galaxies all do lie roughly100 million light-years from planet Earth.Not as well known as other tightgroupings of galaxies,the contrast in visual appearancestill makes this triplet an attractive subject for astroimagers.On close examination withspectrographs,the bright core of striking spiral NGC 5985 showsprominent emission in specific wavelengths of light, promptingastronomers to classify it as aSeyfert, a type of active galaxy.Thisimpressively deep exposurehints at a faint dim halo along with sharp-edged shells surroundingelliptical NGC 5982, evidence of past galactic mergers.It also reveals many even moredistant...

APOD: 2023 June 27 - MAVEN's Ultraviolet Mars Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 June 27 MAVEN's Ultraviolet Mars Image Credit: MAVEN,Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, Univ. Colorado,NASA Explanation: These two global views of Marswere captured at ultraviolet wavelengths,beyond the spectrumvisible to human eyes.Recorded by theMAVEN spacecraft'sImaging Ultraviolet Spectrographinstrument in July 2022 (left) and January 2023,three otherwise invisible ultraviolet bands are mapped intored, green, and blue colors.That color scheme presents theRed Planet's surfacefeatures in shades of tan and green.Haze and clouds appear white or blue, while high altitude ozone takeson a dramatic purple hue.On the left, Mars' south polar ice cap is in brilliant whiteat the bottom but shrinking duringthe southern hemisphere'ssummer season.On the right, the northern hemisphere's polar region is seenshrouded in clouds and atmospheric ozone.Known to some as the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN spacecraft,MAVEN has been exploring Mars' tenuous upper atmosphere,ionosphere, and its interactions with the Sun and solar windsince 2014. Tomorrow's picture: star cloud<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Phillip NewmanSpecific...

Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 June 28 Messier 24: Sagittarius Star Cloud Image Credit &Copyright:Emmanuel Astronomono Explanation: Unlike most entriesin Charles Messier's famous catalog of deep sky objects,M24is not a bright galaxy, star cluster, or nebula.It's a gap in nearby, obscuring interstellar dust clouds that allowsa view of the distant stars in the Sagittarius spiral armof our Milky Way galaxy.Direct your gazethrough this gap with binoculars or small telescopeand you arelooking through a window over 300 light-years wide at stars some10,000 light-years or more from Earth.Sometimes called the Small Sagittarius Star Cloud, M24's luminous stars fillthis gorgeous starscape. Covering over 3 degrees or the width of 6 full moons in theconstellation Sagittarius,the telescopic field of view includesdark markingsB92 and B93 near center, along with otherclouds of dust and glowing nebulae toward the center of the Milky Way. Tomorrow's picture: pixels in space<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Phillip NewmanSpecific rights apply.NASA WebPrivacy Policy and Important NoticesA service of:ASD atNASA /GSFC&...

Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 June 27 MAVEN's Ultraviolet Mars Image Credit: MAVEN,Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, Univ. Colorado,NASA Explanation: These two global views of Marswere captured at ultraviolet wavelengths,beyond the spectrumvisible to human eyes.Recorded by theMAVEN spacecraft'sImaging Ultraviolet Spectrographinstrument in July 2022 (left) and January 2023,three otherwise invisible ultraviolet bands are mapped intored, green, and blue colors.That color scheme presents theRed Planet's surfacefeatures in shades of tan and green.Haze and clouds appear white or blue, while high altitude ozone takeson a dramatic purple hue.On the left, Mars' south polar ice cap is in brilliant whiteat the bottom but shrinking duringthe southern hemisphere'ssummer season.On the right, the northern hemisphere's polar region is seenshrouded in clouds and atmospheric ozone.Known to some as the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN spacecraft,MAVEN has been exploring Mars' tenuous upper atmosphere,ionosphere, and its interactions with the Sun and solar windsince 2014. Tomorrow's picture: galaxies away<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Phillip NewmanSpecific rights apply.NASA WebPrivacy...

APOD: 2023 June 23 - Giant Galaxies in Pavo Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 June 23 Giant Galaxies in Pavo Image Credit &Copyright: Mike Selby,Observatorio El Sauce Explanation: Over 500,000 light years across, NGC 6872(top right) is a trulyenormous barred spiral galaxy,at least 5 times the size of our own very large Milky Way.The appearance of thisgiant galaxy'sdistorted and stretched out spiral armssuggests the magnificent wings of a giant bird.Of course its popular moniker is the Condor galaxy.It lies about 200 million light-years distant toward the southern constellation Pavo, the Peacock.Lined withstar-forming regions, the distortedspiral arms are due to NGC 6872's gravitational interactionwith the nearby smallergalaxy IC 4970,seen just above the giant galaxy's core.The Pavo galaxy group'sdominant giant elliptical galaxy, NGC 6876is below and left of the soaring Condor galaxy. Tomorrow's picture: fifty first flights<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Phillip NewmanSpecific rights apply.NASA WebPrivacy Policy and Important NoticesA service of:ASD atNASA /GSFC& Michigan Tech. U.

Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 June 24 3D Ingenuity Image Credit: NASA,JPL-Caltech,MSSS,ASU Explanation: The multicolor, stereo imagingMastcam-Zon the Perseverance roverzoomed into capturethis 3D close-up (get out your red/blue glasses) of theMars Ingenuityhelicopteron mission sol 45.That's Earth-date 2021 April 5.Casting a shadowon the Martian surface, Ingenuity is standingalone on its four landing legs next to the rover's wheel tracks.The experimental helicopter's solar panel, charging batteries that keepit warm through thecold Martian nightsand power its flight, sits justabove Ingenuity's two 1.2 meter (4 foot) long counter-rotating blades.Thirteen sols later, on April 19,Ingenuity became the first aircraft to perform powered, controlledflight on another planet.It has since gone onto complete more than 50flights through the thin atmosphere of Mars. Tomorrow's picture: Jovian lightning<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Phillip NewmanSpecific rights apply.NASA WebPrivacy Policy and Important NoticesA service of:ASD atNASA /GSFC& Michigan Tech. U.