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 March 18 Wolf-Rayet 124 Image Credit: NASA,ESA,CSA,STScI,Webb ERO Production Team Explanation: Driven by powerful stellar winds,expanding shrouds of gas and dustframehot, luminous star Wolf-Rayet 124 inthis sharp infrared view.The eye-catching 6-spike starpattern is characteristic ofstellar images made with the 18 hexagonal mirrors of theJames Webb Space Telescope.About 15,000 light-years distant toward the pointed northernconstellation Sagitta,WR 124 hasover 30 times the mass of the Sun.Produced in a brief and rarely spottedphase ofmassive star evolutionin the Milky Way, this star's turbulent nebula is nearly 6 light-yearsacross.It heraldsWR 124's impending stellar deathin a supernova explosion. Formed in the expanding nebula, dusty interstellar debris that survivesthe supernovawill influencethe formation of future generations of stars. Tomorrow's picture: Mayan Milky Way <| 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,NASA Science Activation& Michigan Tech. U.

APOD: 2023 March 16 - Millions of Stars in Omega Centauri 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 March 16 Millions of Stars in Omega Centauri Image Credit &Copyright:Neil Corke,Heaven's Mirror Observatory Explanation: Globular star clusterOmega Centauri,also known as NGC 5139, is 15,000 light-years away.The cluster is packed with about 10 millionstars much older than the Sun within a volume about 150 light-years indiameter.It's the largest and brightest of 200 or so knownglobularclusters that roam the halo of our Milky Way galaxy.Though most star clusters consist of stars with the same age andcomposition, the enigmatic Omega Cen exhibits the presence ofdifferentstellar populations with a spread of ages and chemical abundances.In fact,Omega Cen may betheremnantcore of a small galaxy merging with the Milky Way.Omega Centauri's red giant stars (with ayellowish hue) are easy to pickout in thissharp, color telescopic view. Tomorrow's picture: serpentine <| 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,NASA Science Activation& 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 March 17 The Medusa Nebula Image Credit &Copyright:Martin BradleyChesterfield Astronomical Society Explanation: Braided and serpentine filaments of glowing gassuggest this nebula's popular name, The Medusa Nebula.Also knownas Abell 21, this Medusa is an old planetary nebulasome 1,500 light-years away in the constellation Gemini.Like its mythologicalnamesake, the nebula is associated with a dramatic transformation.Theplanetary nebulaphase represents a final stage inthe evolutionof low mass stars like the sun as they transform themselves fromred giantsto hot white dwarf stars and in the process shrug off their outer layers.Ultravioletradiationfrom the hot star powers the nebular glow.The Medusa's transforming star is the faint one near the centerof the overall bright crescent shape.In this deep telescopic view, fainter filaments clearly extendbelow and right of the bright crescent region.The Medusa Nebula is estimated to be over4light-years across. Tomorrow's picture: supernova's prelude <| 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,NASA Science Activation&...

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 March 16 Millions of Stars in Omega Centauri Image Credit &Copyright:Neil Corke,Heaven's Mirror Observatory Explanation: Globular star clusterOmega Centauri,also known as NGC 5139, is 15,000 light-years away.The cluster is packed with about 10 millionstars much older than the Sun within a volume about 150 light-years indiameter.It's the largest and brightest of 200 or so knownglobularclusters that roam the halo of our Milky Way galaxy.Though most star clusters consist of stars with the same age andcomposition, the enigmatic Omega Cen exhibits the presence ofdifferentstellar populations with a spread of ages and chemical abundances.In fact,Omega Cen may betheremnantcore of a small galaxy merging with the Milky Way.Omega Centauri's red giant stars (with ayellowish hue) are easy to pickout in thissharp, color telescopic view. Tomorrow's picture: serpentine <| 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,NASA Science Activation& Michigan Tech. U.

APOD: 2023 March 10 - Orion and the Running Man 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 March 10 Orion and the Running Man Image Credit &Copyright:Abraham Jones Explanation: Few cosmic vistas excite the imagination likeThe Great Nebula in Orion.Visible as a faint celestial smudgeto the naked-eye,the nearest large star-forming region sprawls acrossthis sharp telescopic image,recorded on a cold January night in dark skiesfrom West Virginia, planet Earth.Also known asM42,the Orion Nebula's glowing gas surroundshot, young stars.About 40 light-years across, it lies at the edge of an immense interstellarmolecular cloudonly 1,500 light-years awaywithin the same spiral arm of our Milky Way galaxy as the Sun.Along with dusty bluish reflection nebulaNGC 1977 and friendsnear the top of the frame,the eye-catching nebulae represent only asmall fraction of ourgalactic neighborhood'swealth of star-forming material.Within the well-studied stellar nursery,astronomers have also identifiedwhat appear to be numerousinfant solar systems. Tomorrow's picture: 3D Bennu <| 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,NASA Science...

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 March 11 3D Bennu Image Credit: NASA, GSFC, U. Arizona -Stereo Image Copyright:PatrickVantuyne Explanation: Put on your red/blue glasses and float next to asteroid101955 Bennu.Shaped like a spinning toy topwith boulderslittering its rough surface,the tiny Solar System world is aboutone Empire State Building(less than 500 meters) across.Frames used to construct this 3D anaglyph were taken by PolyCam on theOSIRIS_REx spacecrafton December 3, 2018 from a distance of about 80 kilometers.With a sample from the asteroid'srocky surfaceon board, OSIRIS_REx departed Bennu's vicinity in May of 2021 and isnow enroute to planet Earth.The robotic spacecraft is scheduled to return the sample toEarth this September. Tomorrow's picture: mysteries of the sponge 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,NASA Science Activation& Michigan Tech. U.

APOD: 2023 March 9 - DART vs Dimorphos 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 March 9 DART vs Dimorphos Image Credit: NASA,Johns Hopkins APL,DART Explanation: On the first planetary defensetest mission from planet Earth,the DART spacecraft captured this close-up on 26 September 2022,three seconds beforeslamming into thesurface of asteroid moonlet Dimorphos.The spacecraft's outline with two long solar panelsis traced at its projectedpoint of impact between two boulders.The larger boulder is about 6.5 meters across.While the DART(Double Asteroid Redirection Test)spacecraft had a mass of some 570 kilograms,the estimated mass of Dimorphos,the smaller member of a near-Earth binary asteroid system,was about 5 billion kilograms.The direct kinetic impact of the spacecraft measurablyaltered the speed of Dimorphos by a fraction of a percent,reducing its 12 hourorbital period around itslarger companionasteroid 65803 Didymosby about 33 minutes.Beyond successfully demonstratinga technique to changean asteroid's orbit that can prevent future asteroidstrikes on planet Earth,the planetary-scale impact experimenthas given the150-meter-sized Dimorphos acomet-like tail of material. Tomorrow's picture: a great nebula <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA...

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 March 10 Orion and the Running Man Image Credit &Copyright:Abraham Jones Explanation: Few cosmic vistas excite the imagination likeThe Great Nebula in Orion.Visible as a faint celestial smudgeto the naked-eye,the nearest large star-forming region sprawls acrossthis sharp telescopic image,recorded on a cold January night in dark skiesfrom West Virginia, planet Earth.Also known asM42,the Orion Nebula's glowing gas surroundshot, young stars.About 40 light-years across, it lies at the edge of an immense interstellarmolecular cloudonly 1,500 light-years awaywithin the same spiral arm of our Milky Way galaxy as the Sun.Along with dusty bluish reflection nebulaNGC 1977 and friendsnear the top of the frame,the eye-catching nebulae represent only asmall fraction of ourgalactic neighborhood'swealth of star-forming material.Within the well-studied stellar nursery,astronomers have also identifiedwhat appear to be numerousinfant solar systems. Tomorrow's picture: 3D Bennu <| 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,NASA Science Activation& 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 March 9 DART vs Dimorphos Image Credit: NASA,Johns Hopkins APL,DART Explanation: On the first planetary defensetest mission from planet Earth,the DART spacecraft captured this close-up on 26 September 2022,three seconds beforeslamming into thesurface of asteroid moonlet Dimorphos.The spacecraft's outline with two long solar panelsis traced at its projectedpoint of impact between two boulders.The larger boulder is about 6.5 meters across.While the DART(Double Asteroid Redirection Test)spacecraft had a mass of some 570 kilograms,the estimated mass of Dimorphos,the smaller member of a near-Earth binary asteroid system,was about 5 billion kilograms.The direct kinetic impact of the spacecraft measurablyaltered the speed of Dimorphos by a fraction of a percent,reducing its 12 hourorbital period around itslarger companionasteroid 65803 Didymosby about 33 minutes.Beyond successfully demonstratinga technique to changean asteroid's orbit that can prevent future asteroidstrikes on planet Earth,the planetary-scale impact experimenthas given the150-meter-sized Dimorphos acomet-like tail of material. Tomorrow's picture: a great nebula <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Phillip NewmanSpecific...

APOD: 2023 March 3 - RCW 86: Historical Supernova Remnant 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 March 3 RCW 86: Historical Supernova Remnant Image Credit:CTIO/NOIRLab/DOE/NSF/AURA,T.A. Rector (Univ.of Alaska/NSF’s NOIRLab),J. Miller (Gemini Obs./NSF’s NOIRLab),M. Zamani & D. de Martin (NSF’s NOIRLab) Explanation: In 185 AD,Chinese astronomersrecorded the appearance of a new star in the Nanmen asterism.That part of the sky isidentified with Alpha and Beta Centauri on modern star charts.The new star was visible to the naked-eye for months,and is now thought to be the earliestrecorded supernova.This deep telescopic viewreveals the wispy outlines of emission nebula RCW 86, just visible againstthe starry background,understood to be the remnantof that stellar explosion.Captured by the wide-fieldDark Energy Camera operating at CerroTololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile,the image traces the full extent of a ragged shell of gas ionized by the stillexpanding shock wave.Space-based imagesindicate an abundance of the element iron in RCW 86 andthe absence of a neutron star or pulsarwithin the remnant,suggesting that the original supernova was Type Ia.Unlike the core collapsesupernova explosion of a massive star, aType Ia supernovais a thermonucleardetonation on a white dwarfstar...

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 March 4 10 Days of Venus and Jupiter Image Credit &Copyright:Soumyadeep Mukherjee Explanation: Venus and Jupitermay have caught your attention lately. The impending close conjunction of the two brightestplanets visible in clear evening skieshas beenhard to miss.With Jupiter at the top, starting on February 21 and ending on March 2,their close approach ischronicled daily, left to right, in thesepanels recorded from Dhanbad, India.Near the western horizon, the evening sky colorsand exposures used for each panel depend on the local conditions near sunset.On February 22, Jupiter and Venus were joined by theyoung crescent Moon.The celestial pair appeared to be onlythe width of a full moon apart by March 2.Of course on that datethe two planets were physically separated by over 600 millionkilometers in theirorbits around the Sun.In the coming daysJupiter will slowly settle into the glare at sunset,but Venus will continue to move farther from the Sun in thewestern sky to excel in its current role as thebrilliant evening star. Jupiter & Venus Conjunction Gallery: Notable Submissions to APOD Tomorrow's picture: a...

APOD: 2023 March 2 - Unraveling NGC 3169 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 March 2 Unraveling NGC 3169 Image Credit &Copyright:Mike Selby &Mark Hanson Explanation: Spiral galaxy NGC 3169 looks to be unraveling like a ball of cosmic yarn.It lies some 70 million light-years away,south ofbright star Regulus toward the faint constellation Sextans.Wound up spiral arms are pulled out into sweeping tidaltails as NGC 3169 (left) and neighboring NGC 3166interact gravitationally.Eventually the galaxies will merge into one,a common fate even for bright galaxies inthe local universe.Drawn out stellar arcs and plumes are clearindications of the ongoing gravitational interactionsacross the deep and colorfulgalaxygroup photo.The telescopic frame spans about 20 arc minutes or about 400,000 light-yearsat the group's estimated distance, and includes smaller, bluish NGC 3165at the right.NGC 3169 is also known to shine across the spectrum fromradio to X-rays,harboringan active galactic nucleus that is thesite of a supermassive black hole. Tomorrow's picture: in 185 AD <| 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...

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 March 3 RCW 86: Historical Supernova Remnant Image Credit:CTIO/NOIRLab/DOE/NSF/AURA,T.A. Rector (Univ.of Alaska/NSF’s NOIRLab),J. Miller (Gemini Obs./NSF’s NOIRLab),M. Zamani & D. de Martin (NSF’s NOIRLab) Explanation: In 185 AD,Chinese astronomersrecorded the appearance of a new star in the Nanmen asterism.That part of the sky isidentified with Alpha and Beta Centauri on modern star charts.The new star was visible to the naked-eye for months,and is now thought to be the earliestrecorded supernova.This deep telescopic viewreveals the wispy outlines of emission nebula RCW 86, just visible againstthe starry background,understood to be the remnantof that stellar explosion.Captured by the wide-fieldDark Energy Camera operating at CerroTololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile,the image traces the full extent of a ragged shell of gas ionized by the stillexpanding shock wave.Space-based imagesindicate an abundance of the element iron in RCW 86 andthe absence of a neutron star or pulsarwithin the remnant,suggesting that the original supernova was Type Ia.Unlike the core collapsesupernova explosion of a massive star, aType Ia supernovais a thermonucleardetonation on a white dwarfstar that accretes material from a...

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 March 2 Unraveling NGC 3169 Image Credit &Copyright:Mike Selby &Mark Hanson Explanation: Spiral galaxy NGC 3169 looks to be unraveling like a ball of cosmic yarn.It lies some 70 million light-years away,south ofbright star Regulus toward the faint constellation Sextans.Wound up spiral arms are pulled out into sweeping tidaltails as NGC 3169 (left) and neighboring NGC 3166interact gravitationally.Eventually the galaxies will merge into one,a common fate even for bright galaxies inthe local universe.Drawn out stellar arcs and plumes are clearindications of the ongoing gravitational interactionsacross the deep and colorfulgalaxygroup photo.The telescopic frame spans about 20 arc minutes or about 400,000 light-yearsat the group's estimated distance, and includes smaller, bluish NGC 3165at the right.NGC 3169 is also known to shine across the spectrum fromradio to X-rays,harboringan active galactic nucleus that is thesite of a supermassive black hole. 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...

APOD: 2023 February 24 - Jones Emberson 1 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 February 24 Jones-Emberson 1 Image Credit &Copyright: SergeBrunier, Jean-François Bax, David Vernet,C2PU/OCA Explanation: Planetary nebulaJones-Emberson 1is thedeath shroudof a dying Sun-like star.It lies some 1,600 light-years from Earth toward thesharp-eyedconstellation Lynx.About 4 light-years across,the expanding remnant of the dying star's atmosphere wasshrugged offinto interstellar space, as the star'scentral supply of hydrogen and then helium for fusion wasfinally depleted after billions of years.Visible near the center of the planetary nebulais what remains of the stellar core, a blue-hotwhite dwarf star. Also known as PK 164 +31.1, the nebula is faint and verydifficult to glimpse at a telescope's eyepiece.But this deep broadband imagecombining 22 hours of exposure time does show it off in exceptional detail.Stars within our own Milky Way galaxy as well as background galaxiesacross the universe are scattered through the clear field of view.Ephemeralon the cosmic stage, Jones-Emberson 1will fade away over the next few thousand years.Its hot, central white dwarf star will takebillionsof years to cool. Tomorrow's picture: moonset <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS|...

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 February 25 Crescent Moon Occultation Image Credit &Copyright: Fefo Bouvier Explanation: On February 22, a young Moon shared the western sky at sunsetwith bright planets Venus and Jupiteralong the ecliptic plane.The beautiful celestial conjunction wasvisible around planet Earth.But from somelocationsJupiter hid for a while,occulted by the crescent lunar disk.The Solar System's ruling gas giant was captured here justbefore it disappeared behind the the Moon's dark edge,seen overthe Río de la Plata at Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay. In the serene river and skyscape Venus is not so shy,shining brightly closer to the horizonthrough the fading twilight.Next week Venus and Jupiter will appeareven closerin your evening sky. Tomorrow's picture: Saturn's Iapetus <| 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,NASA Science Activation& Michigan Tech. U.

APOD: 2023 February 23 - Arp 78: Peculiar Galaxy in Aries 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 February 23 Arp 78: Peculiar Galaxy in Aries Image Credit &Copyright: Josep Drudis Explanation: Peculiarspiral galaxy Arp 78 is found within the boundaries of the head strongconstellationAries.Some 100 million light-years beyond thestars and nebulae of our Milky Way galaxy,the island universe is an enormous 200,000 light-years across.Also known as NGC 772,it sports a prominent, outer spiral arm inthisdetailed cosmic portrait.Tracking along sweeping dust lanes andlined withyoung blue star clusters, Arp 78's overdeveloped spiral arm ispumped-upby galactic-scale gravitational tides.Interactions with its brightest companion galaxy,the more compact NGC 770seen above and right of the larger spiral, are likely responsible.Embedded in faint star streams revealed in the deep telescopic exposure,NGC 770's fuzzy, elliptical appearance contrasts nicelywith spiky foreground Milky Way stars in matching yellowish hues. Tomorrow's picture: beyond Jones-Emberson 1 <| 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,NASA Science Activation& Michigan...

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 February 24 Jones-Emberson 1 Image Credit &Copyright: SergeBrunier, Jean-François Bax, David Vernet,C2PU/OCA Explanation: Planetary nebulaJones-Emberson 1is thedeath shroudof a dying Sun-like star.It lies some 1,600 light-years from Earth toward thesharp-eyedconstellation Lynx.About 4 light-years across,the expanding remnant of the dying star's atmosphere wasshrugged offinto interstellar space, as the star'scentral supply of hydrogen and then helium for fusion wasfinally depleted after billions of years.Visible near the center of the planetary nebulais what remains of the stellar core, a blue-hotwhite dwarf star. Also known as PK 164 +31.1, the nebula is faint and verydifficult to glimpse at a telescope's eyepiece.But this deep broadband imagecombining 22 hours of exposure time does show it off in exceptional detail.Stars within our own Milky Way galaxy as well as background galaxiesacross the universe are scattered through the clear field of view.Ephemeralon the cosmic stage, Jones-Emberson 1will fade away over the next few thousand years.Its hot, central white dwarf star will takebillionsof years to cool. Tomorrow's picture: moonset <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD|...

2023 CX1 Meteor Flash

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 February 18 Barred Spiral Galaxy NGC 1365 from Webb Image Credit:NASA,ESA,CSA,Janice Lee (NOIRLab) -Processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI) Explanation: A mere 56 million light-years distant toward thesouthern constellation Fornax,NGC1365 is an enormousbarred spiral galaxy about 200,000 light-years in diameter.That's twice the size of our own barred spiral Milky Way.This sharp imagefrom theJames Webb Space Telescope'sMid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI)reveals stunning detailsof this magnificent spiralin infrared light.Webb'sfield of viewstretches about 60,000 light-yearsacross NGC 1365, exploring the galaxy's core and bright newborn star clusters.The intricate network of dusty filaments and bubbles iscreated by young stars along spiral arms winding from thegalaxy's central bar.Astronomers suspectthe gravity field of NGC 1365's bar playsa crucial role in the galaxy's evolution,funneling gas and dust into astar-forming maelstromand ultimately feeding materialinto the active galaxy's central,supermassive black hole. Tomorrow's picture: seven siblings from WISE <| 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,NASA Science Activation& Michigan...