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 September 4
    [2]See Explanation. Clicking on the picture will download the highest
                        resolution version available.

                    Nā ʻUhane Māhoe Huki Pū i ke Ola
   Image Credit: [3]International Gemini Observatory / [4]NOIRLab/NSF/AURA
      Image Processing: J. Miller & M. Rodriguez (International Gemini
                          Observatory/NSF NOIRLab),
   T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF NOIRLab), D. de Martin
                          & M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab)

   Explanation: [5]Nā ʻUhane Māhoe Huki Pū i ke Ola, is the Hawaiian name
   given to this image of a pair of spiral galaxies locked in a mutual
   gravitational embrace. Some 200 million light-years distant toward the
   high flying constellation Pegasus their spectacular, galactic scale
   merger is captured in sharp detail in the image from the 8.1 meter
   [6]Gemini North telescope on Maunakea, Hawai‘i. The galaxy pair,
   [7]known as NGC 7253 and Arp 278, was chosen as a target, researched,
   and given a Hawaiian name by high school students in the joint Gemini
   Observatory and University of Hawaiʻi [8]Project Hōkūlani internship
   program. The name translates to "The Twin Spirits Pulling Together
   Creating Life". That's both culturally and astronomically appropriate
   for [9]galaxy collisions that trigger a cosmic [10]maelstrom of star
   formation from galactic reservoirs of elemental building blocks of
   life. [11]These merging galaxies are found within a region of Pegasus
   identified as the Hawaiian navigational constellation [12]Ka Lupe o
   Kawelo.

       APOD's main NASA site is [13]moving: From [14]apod.nasa.gov to
                          [15]science.nasa.gov/apod
                     Tomorrow's picture: chasing shadows
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      Authors & editors: [27]Robert Nemiroff ([28]MTU) & Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([29]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [30]Specific rights apply.
            [31]NASA Web Privacy, [32]Accessibility, [33]Notices;
                A service of: [34]ASD at [35]NASA / [36]GSFC,
                         [37]NASA Science Activation
                           & [38]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2609/noirlab2621a.jpg
   3. https://www.gemini.edu/
   4. https://noirlab.edu/public/
   5. https://noirlab.edu/public/images/noirlab2621a/
   6. https://noirlab.edu/public/programs/gemini-observatory/gemini-north/
   7. https://noirlab.edu/public/news/noirlab2621/
   8. https://cds.coe.hawaii.edu/hokulani/
   9. https://science.nasa.gov/missions/hubble/cosmic-collisions-galore/
  10. https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2020-february-22-central-centaurus-a/
  11. https://www.friendsofnasa.org/2026/09/journey-to-ngc-7253interacting-galaxies.html
  12. https://kealakai.byuh.edu/a-celestial-guide-to-seafaring
  13. https://asterisk.apod.com/viewtopic.php?t=45023
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/
  15. https://science.nasa.gov/apod
  16. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260903.html
  17. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  20. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  22. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  25. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=260904
  26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260905.html
  27. https://www.mtu.edu/physics/department/faculty/nemiroff/
  28. https://www.mtu.edu/physics
  29. https://www.astro.umd.edu/
  30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  31. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  32. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  33. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  34. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  35. https://www.nasa.gov/
  36. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  37. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  38. http://www.mtu.edu/