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 August 30
   [2]A large spiral galaxy occupies the frame, with a bright white center
    slightly toward the upper left, and blue hued spiral arms laced with
    dark dust surrounding the center. Please see the explanation for more
                            detailed information.

                         M74: A Grand Design Spiral
    Image Credit: [3]NASA, [4]ESA, and the [5]Hubble Heritage ([6]STScI /
                   [7]AURA)- [8]ESA / Hubble Collaboration
      Acknowledgment: R. Chandar (U. Toledo) & J. Miller (U. Michigan)

   Explanation: If not the most grand, then this [9]spiral galaxy is at
   least one of the most photogenic. An [10]island universe of about 100
   billion stars, 32 million light-years away toward the [11]constellation
   Pisces, M74 presents a [12]gorgeous face-on view. Classified as an Sc
   galaxy, the [13]grand design of M74's graceful spiral arms are traced
   by bright [14]blue star clusters and dark [15]cosmic dust lanes.
   [16]Constructed from archival images, this [17]sharp composite is from
   the [18]Hubble Space Telescope. Spanning about 30,000 [19]light-years
   across the face of [20]M74, it includes exposures recording emission
   from hydrogen atoms, highlighting the reddish glow of the galaxy's
   large [21]star-forming regions.

       APOD's main NASA site is [22]moving: From [23]apod.nasa.gov to
                          [24]science.nasa.gov/apod
                     Tomorrow's picture: eclipse flight
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    Authors & editors: [36]Robert Nemiroff ([37]MTU) & [38]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([39]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [40]Specific rights apply.
            [41]NASA Web Privacy, [42]Accessibility, [43]Notices;
                A service of: [44]ASD at [45]NASA / [46]GSFC,
                         [47]NASA Science Activation
                           & [48]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2608/m74_hst_1280.jpg
   3. https://www.nasa.gov/
   4. https://esahubble.org/
   5. https://www.nasa.gov/stem-content/the-hubble-heritage-project/
   6. https://www.stsci.edu/
   7. https://www.aura-astronomy.org/
   8. https://esahubble.org/
   9. https://science.nasa.gov/universe/galaxies/types/
  10. https://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/level5/March02/Gordon/Gordon2.html
  11. https://www.allthesky.com/constellations/pisces/constell.html:
  12. https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1650535812141-04d564530b17
  13. https://burro.cwru.edu/Academics/Astr222/Galaxies/Spiral/spiral.html
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap990402.html
  15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap030706.html
  16. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/multimedia/hubble-images/
  17. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/science/explore-the-night-sky/hubble-messier-catalog/messier-74/
  18. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/
  19. https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/light-year/en/
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220722.html
  21. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/science/science-highlights/exploring-the-birth-of-stars/
  22. https://asterisk.apod.com/viewtopic.php?t=45023
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/
  24. https://science.nasa.gov/apod
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260829.html
  26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  29. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  31. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  32. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  33. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  34. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=260830
  35. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260831.html
  36. https://www.mtu.edu/physics/department/faculty/nemiroff/
  37. https://www.mtu.edu/physics/
  38. https://inspirehep.net/authors/1073087
  39. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  40. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  41. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  42. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  43. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  44. https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/astrophysics/
  45. https://www.nasa.gov/
  46. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  47. https://science.nasa.gov/learn/about-science-activation/
  48. http://www.mtu.edu/