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Astronomy Picture of the Day -- NGC 5965 and NGC 5963 in Draco
NASA ^ | February 16, 2012 | (see photo credit)

Posted on 02/16/2012 3:33:03 AM PST by SunkenCiv

Explanation: These two spiral galaxies make a photogenic pair, found within the boundaries of the northern constellation Draco. Contrasting in color and orientation, NGC 5965 is nearly edge-on to our line of sight and dominated by yellow hues, while bluish NGC 5963 is closer to face-on. Of course, even in this well-framed cosmic snapshot the scene is invaded by other galaxies, including small elliptical NGC 5969 at the lower left. Brighter, spiky stars in our own Milky Way are scattered through the foreground. Though they seem to be close and of similar size, galaxies NGC 5965 and NGC 5963 are far apart and unrelated, by chance appearing close on the sky. NGC 5965 is about 150 million light-years distant and over 200,000 light-years across. Much smaller, NGC 5963 is a mere 40 million light-years away and so is not associated with the edge-on spiral. Difficult to follow, NGC 5963's extraordinarily faint blue spiral arms mark it as a low surface brightness galaxy.

February 16, 2012

(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; draco; ngc5963; ngc5965; science
[Credit & Copyright: Stephen Leshin]

1 posted on 02/16/2012 3:33:09 AM PST by SunkenCiv
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To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; married21; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; ...

2 posted on 02/16/2012 3:34:41 AM PST by SunkenCiv (FReep this FReepathon!)
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To: SunkenCiv

Nice.


3 posted on 02/16/2012 3:57:26 AM PST by ILS21R (Never give up.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Very cool, SunkenCiv!!


4 posted on 02/16/2012 4:15:20 AM PST by momtothree
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To: SunkenCiv
NGC 5965 and NGC 5963 in Draco

Cool. Do you happen to have one of Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra?

5 posted on 02/16/2012 4:21:10 AM PST by edpc (Wilby 2012)
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To: SunkenCiv

The time/distances involved here are just staggering.


6 posted on 02/16/2012 4:40:16 AM PST by KoRn (Department of Homeland Security, Certified - "Right Wing Extremist")
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To: edpc

:’) It’s only a matter of time, we’ve already got Juliet on the balcony.


7 posted on 02/16/2012 4:49:56 AM PST by SunkenCiv (FReep this FReepathon!)
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To: edpc

“Cool. Do you happen to have one of Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra?”

Did the walls fall?


8 posted on 02/16/2012 5:42:19 AM PST by MrNeutron1962
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To: MrNeutron1962

I’m fairly certain they did, but I’d have to confirm it with Shaka.


9 posted on 02/16/2012 5:51:38 AM PST by edpc (Wilby 2012)
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To: SunkenCiv
When I see your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and stars that you set in place—

What is man that you are mindful of him,
and a son of man that you care for him?

Yet you have made him little less than a god,
crowned him with glory and honor.

You have given him rule over the works of your hands,
put all things at his feet:

All sheep and oxen,
even the beasts of the field,

The birds of the air, the fish of the sea,
and whatever swims the paths of the seas.

O LORD, our Lord,
how awesome is your name through all the earth!

 - Psalm 8:4-10

10 posted on 02/16/2012 6:11:27 AM PST by COBOL2Java (Mitt Romney is SEVERELY conservative - so severe, it hurts him to be conservative!)
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To: SunkenCiv
Not sure if I've ever thanked you, but I do enjoy these threads.

So, thanks!

11 posted on 02/16/2012 9:04:13 AM PST by mombonn (God is looking for spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.)
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To: SunkenCiv

No wonder they’re winking at us, LOL! They’re a lot farther apart than they look.


12 posted on 02/16/2012 12:50:01 PM PST by TheOldLady (FReepmail me to get ON or OFF the ZOT LIGHTNING ping list)
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To: SunkenCiv

how many of those other points of light galaxies? The vastness of space...


13 posted on 02/16/2012 12:52:47 PM PST by VaRepublican (I would propagate taglines but I don't know how. But bloggers do.)
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To: VaRepublican
sorry posted to quick, How many of those other points of light “are” galaxies?
14 posted on 02/16/2012 12:56:14 PM PST by VaRepublican (I would propagate taglines but I don't know how. But bloggers do.)
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To: COBOL2Java

Thank you! I was just thinking of that very same passage when I refreshed and saw you posted it.....
PJ


15 posted on 02/16/2012 1:00:24 PM PST by duckbutt (Those who pay no taxes have no check on their appetite for services.)
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To: KoRn
> The time/distances involved here are just staggering.

You are SO right. I had the same thought a minute ago, and it took my breath away.

The magnificence and the scope of God's Creation... there simply are no words for it.

16 posted on 02/16/2012 6:54:16 PM PST by dayglored (Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government!)
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To: mombonn

My pleasure.


17 posted on 02/16/2012 6:59:29 PM PST by SunkenCiv (FReep this FReepathon!)
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