                        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.

                               2026 January 26
   A galaxy is shown that has a lot of blue and red dots in it. The galaxy
   is an long elliptical blob across the middle and not a classic spiral.
          Please see the explanation for more detailed information.

                         NGC 55: A Galaxy of Nebulas
    Image Credit & Copyright: Wolfgang Promper; Text: Ogetay Kayali (MTU)

   Explanation: Can you see nebulas in other galaxies? Yes, some nebulas
   shine brightly enough -- if you know how to look. Clouds of hydrogen
   and oxygen emit light at very specific colors, and by isolating them,
   astronomers and astrophotographers can reveal structures that would
   otherwise be too faint to notice. This deep, 50-hour exposure
   highlights glowing hydrogen (red) and oxygen (blue) across galaxy NGC
   55, viewed nearly edge-on. Also known as the String of Pearls Galaxy,
   NGC 55 is often compared to our Milky Way's satellite galaxy the Large
   Magellanic Cloud (LMC), although NGC 55 lies much farther away at about
   6.5 million light-years. The resulting image uncovers a sprinkling of
   emission nebulas within and sometimes above the galaxy's dusty disk,
   offering a detailed look at distant star-forming regions.

                 Jigsaw Galaxy: Astronomy Puzzle of the Day
                    Tomorrow's picture: Orion's treasures
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
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                             & Michigan Tech. U.

