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Astronomy Picture of the Day 3-29-02
NASA ^
| 3-29-02
| Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell
Posted on 03/29/2002 3:17:07 PM PST by petuniasevan
Astronomy Picture of the Day
Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
2002 March 29
NGC 4631: The Whale Galaxy
Credit: Diane Zeiders, Adam Block (KPNO Visitor Program), NOAO, AURA, NSF
Explanation: NGC 4631 is a big beautiful spiral galaxy seen edge-on only 25 million light-years away towards the small northern constellation Canes Venatici. This galaxy's slightly distorted wedge shape suggests to some a cosmic herring and to others the popular moniker of The Whale Galaxy. Either way, it is similar in size to our own Milky Way. In this gorgeous color image, the Whale's dark interstellar dust clouds, young bright blue star clusters, and purplish star forming regions are easy to spot. A companion galaxy, the small elliptical NGC 4627 appears above the Whale Galaxy. Out of view off the lower left corner of the picture lies another distorted galaxy, the hockey stick-shaped NGC 4656. The distortions and mingling trails of gas and dust detected at other wavelengths suggest that all three galaxies have had close encounters with each other in their past. The Whale Galaxy is also known to have spouted a halo of hot gas glowing in x-rays.
TOPICS: Astronomy Picture of the Day; Miscellaneous; Science
KEYWORDS: dust; galaxy; gas; interstellar; photography; space; spiral; stars; telescope; universe
This photo was taken at the NOAO (National Optical Astronomy Observatory) at Kitt Peak, Arizona.
As always, request to be added to the APOD PING list!
To: MozartLover; Joan912; NovemberCharlie; snowfox; Dawgsquat; viligantcitizen; theDentist; grlfrnd...
APOD PING!
To: petuniasevan
The Whale Galaxy is special for some reason. :)
To: petuniasevan
This thread is an incredible source of amazement to me. Thanks for the flag.
4
posted on
03/29/2002 3:33:58 PM PST
by
riley1992
To: petuniasevan; Graewoulf
Glorious! Inspirational!
Wanting to see him,
I look up and see the spring galaxy.
Sparkling beautifully the spring galaxy
Makes me miss him even more.
5
posted on
03/29/2002 3:39:41 PM PST
by
2Trievers
To: petuniasevan
Thanks for the ping.
To: petuniasevan
Cool, this particular picture makes a great desktop pic. And please add me to the PING list. Thanks!
7
posted on
03/29/2002 4:25:58 PM PST
by
Humbug
To: Humbug
Sure thing!
To: petuniasevan
Incredible.
Thanks for the ping. :)
9
posted on
03/29/2002 5:22:11 PM PST
by
Joan912
To: petuniasevan
Incredible.
Thanks for the ping. :)
10
posted on
03/29/2002 5:26:10 PM PST
by
Joan912
To: petuniasevan
Awesome!
11
posted on
03/29/2002 5:53:44 PM PST
by
aomagrat
To: petuniasevan
Add me on the APOD too.. I loved the
Catseye Nebula ,, What a sight!!!
SEMPER FI Norm
To: petuniasevan
Please add me to your ping list.
Thanks!
To: petuniasevan
Thanks for putting me on your ping list. I like your choice of images. Keep up the great work!
To: Foghat
FYI
15
posted on
03/29/2002 7:09:15 PM PST
by
suni
To: PetuniaSevan
Ping me too!
16
posted on
03/29/2002 7:12:50 PM PST
by
suni
To: petuniasevan
Please add this amateur astronomer to your ping list. Thank you!
:)
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