Astronomy Picture of the Day -- NGC 2403 in Camelopardalis

NASA ^ | February 19, 2016 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: Magnificent island universe NGC 2403 stands within the boundaries of the long-necked constellation Camelopardalis. Some 10 million light-years distant and about 50,000 light-years across, the spiral galaxy also seems to have more than its fair share of giant star forming HII regions, marked by the telltale reddish glow of atomic hydrogen gas. The giant HII regions are energized by clusters of hot, massive stars that explode as bright supernovae at the end of their short and furious lives. A member of the M81 group of galaxies, NGC 2403 closely resembles another galaxy with an abundance of star forming regions that lies within our own local galaxy group, M33 the Triangulum Galaxy. Spiky in appearance, bright stars in this colorful galaxy portrait of NGC 2403 are in the foreground, within our own Milky Way.

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit and Copyright: Eric Coles and Mel Helm]

[SunkenCiv]

The Big One

join or quit list APoD 'blog post new APoD topic Astronomy Picture of the Day topic & keyword Astronomy Chat, Bloggers & keyword Science Chat, Bloggers & keyword NASA's APoD archive Calendar 1995-present APoD on your desktop

[cripplecreek]

That’s a nice one.

[Boardwalk]

Gorgeous darling!

[Conan the Librarian]

Now you talking!

Big, bright, easy to find. An all time favorite object.

I’ll be looking at it in a few weeks.

[SunkenCiv]

Definitely!

[SunkenCiv]

:’)

[TXnMA]

Thanks! Now part of my Screen Saver...

[SunkenCiv]

APoD’s been on a pretty decent roll the past month or so, just a few turkeys.

[TXnMA]

I'd hate to have to match APOD's performance -- every day for 366 days, this year! '-)

[SunkenCiv]

They run on free/donated labor. :’)