                        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 May 26
   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: Adam Block, El Sauce Obs.

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

                       Tomorrow's picture: open space
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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.

