Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]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 May 26
   [2]A starfield is shown showing two prominent galaxies. Near the top is
    a bright spiral galaxy with several blue spiral arms. Near the bottom
      is a fainter circular galaxy with a bright center. Please see the
                 explanation for more detailed information.

                        NGC 3660 and Burçin's Galaxy
          Image Credit & Copyright: [3]Adam Block, [4]El Sauce Obs.

   Explanation: The upper galaxy might be more photogenic, but the lower
   galaxy is more unusual. The galaxy up top is [5]NGC 3660, a [6]spiral
   galaxy similar to our own [7]Milky Way galaxy in that it has several
   bright blue [8]spiral arms and a [9]central bar of stars, dust, and
   gas. Captured by chance in the [10]featured deep and colorful image,
   surprisingly, is [11]SN 2026cff, a [12]supernova found just to the
   right of the central bar. Farther in the distance is the bottom galaxy,
   known informally as [13]Burçin’s galaxy, but formally cataloged as
   [14]LEDA 1000714. The center of this galaxy appears to be an old
   [15]elliptical galaxy, but it is [16]strangely surrounded by not one
   but two [17]rings of stars. What created [18]Burçin's galaxy is a
   mystery and remains a continuing topic of research, but it likely
   involves the [19]accretion of one or more [20]smaller galaxies.

                       Tomorrow's picture: open space
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    Authors & editors: [32]Robert Nemiroff ([33]MTU) & [34]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([35]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [36]Specific rights apply.
            [37]NASA Web Privacy, [38]Accessibility, [39]Notices;
                A service of: [40]ASD at [41]NASA / [42]GSFC,
                         [43]NASA Science Activation
                           & [44]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2605/Ngc3660Burcin_Block_1176.jpg
   3. https://adamblockstudios.com/about-adam-block/
   4. https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2021RMxAC..53...47R/abstract
   5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_3660
   6. https://science.nasa.gov/universe/galaxies/types/
   7. https://science.nasa.gov/resource/the-milky-way-galaxy/
   8. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap040221.html
   9. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260517.html
  10. https://app.astrobin.com/i/3xe8sf
  11. https://www.wis-tns.org/object/2026cff
  12. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/npQKi9Xu-sM
  13. https://www.ted.com/talks/burcin_mutlu_pakdil_a_rare_galaxy_that_s_challenging_our_understanding_of_the_universe
  14. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyon-Meudon_Extragalactic_Database
  15. https://esahubble.org/wordbank/elliptical-galaxy/
  16. https://t4.ftcdn.net/jpg/08/74/51/69/360_F_874516932_itAmEASwXuIi97PUoP9Jz6w9mNKeMKHg.jpg
  17. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240218.html
  18. https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017MNRAS.466..355M/abstract
  19. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accretion_(astrophysics)
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap120717.html
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260525.html
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  25. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  27. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  30. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=260526
  31. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260527.html
  32. https://www.mtu.edu/physics/department/faculty/nemiroff/
  33. https://www.mtu.edu/physics/
  34. https://inspirehep.net/authors/1073087
  35. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  36. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  37. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  38. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  39. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  40. https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/astrophysics/
  41. https://www.nasa.gov/
  42. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  43. https://science.nasa.gov/learn/about-science-activation/
  44. http://www.mtu.edu/