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Astronomy Picture of the Day - NGC 772: The Fiddlehead Galaxy
NASA ^ | 12 Mar, 2025 | Image Credit & Copyright: Jean-François Bax & Serge Brunier, OCA/C2PU; Text: Ogetay Kayali (Michigan

Posted on 03/12/2025 1:16:54 PM PDT by MtnClimber

Explanation: Why does this galaxy look like a curly vegetable? The Fiddlehead spiral galaxy likely gets its distorted spiral appearance from a gravitational interaction with its close-by elliptical companion NGC 770, seen just below. Cataloged as NGC 772 and Arp 78, the Fiddlehead spans over 200,000 light years, is a nearby 100 million light years beyond the stars of our Milky Way galaxy, and is visible toward the constellation of the Ram (Aries). But in the featured image, the Fiddlehead appears to have another companion -- one with a long and fuzzy tail: Comet 43P/Wolf-Harrington. Though the comet appears to be aimed straight at the massive galaxy, it is actually much closer to us, residing only light minutes away -- well within our Solar System. The comet will never reach the distant spiral galaxy, nor is it physically related to it. By a fortunate trick of perspective, though, these two cosmic wonders briefly share the same frame taken late last year from Calern, France.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; nasa
To be added or removed from the Astronomy Picture of the Day ping list please send me a request via "Private Reply" (Mail).

For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.

1 posted on 03/12/2025 1:16:54 PM PDT by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 03/12/2025 1:17:13 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

Looks like an oyster..................


3 posted on 03/12/2025 1:17:27 PM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: MtnClimber

4 posted on 03/12/2025 1:17:42 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; A Navy Vet; A_perfect_lady; abb; AFB-XYZ; AFPhys; ...
Pinging the APOD list

🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔

5 posted on 03/12/2025 1:20:18 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

along the same lines as the fiddlehead—- Why is it, in the king fu series, David caradine would go into an old west saloon, and he looks about his Chinese as I do, which is to say not at all, and the Cowboys in the bar would say, “ get out of here, Chinaman. “I can never understand that.


6 posted on 03/12/2025 1:21:47 PM PDT by Strict9
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To: Strict9

Well, he (”Grasshopper”) always claimed to be peaceful, yet every episode ended up with him beating the sh1t out of the bad guys using kung fu.


7 posted on 03/12/2025 1:32:32 PM PDT by FroggyTheGremlim (Hail to Pitt!)
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To: Strict9

I know. It’s like when Roman Gabriel played an Indian. We all knew he wasn’t Indian and yet there he was.


8 posted on 03/12/2025 1:38:50 PM PDT by NavyShoe
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To: MtnClimber

VERY cool picture!


9 posted on 03/12/2025 1:39:23 PM PDT by telescope115 (I NEED MY SPACE!!! 🔭)
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To: Red Badger
That's Earth.

The world is my oyster
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha...

10 posted on 03/12/2025 1:43:37 PM PDT by null and void (Americans are a people increasingly separated by our connectivity. H/T MortMan)
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To: Strict9

It’s called “the suspension of disbelief”. It is what allows us to watch and enjoy movies.


11 posted on 03/12/2025 1:48:11 PM PDT by HandyDandy (“Borders, language and culture.” Michael Savage)
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To: MtnClimber; telescope115; FRiends

Gorgeous!

Don’t forget the Lunar ‘Blood Worm’ Moon Eclipse coming up March 13-14. All of North & South America should be able to see it. Hoping for clear skies!

https://www.space.com/stargazing/eclipses/total-lunar-eclipse-march-2025-when-and-where-to-see-the-next-blood-moon-lunar-eclipse


12 posted on 03/12/2025 1:49:53 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: FroggyTheGremlim

yeah! Like Luke skywalker beats the sh&$ out of his dad only when he gives in to hate.


13 posted on 03/12/2025 1:56:36 PM PDT by Strict9
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To: NavyShoe

Yul Brenner in Westworld in the 1970’s— he was one weird-a$$ looking cowboy. I bet if he walked into an old west saloon, the cowboys would have said—“why don’t you mosey along, chinaman!”


14 posted on 03/12/2025 1:57:58 PM PDT by Strict9
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To: MtnClimber

Well, I got me a fine wife, I got me ole fiddle
When the sun’s coming up, I got cakes on the griddle
And life ain’t nothin’ but a funny, funny riddle
Thank God I’m a country boy


15 posted on 03/12/2025 3:22:17 PM PDT by DannyTN
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To: MtnClimber

Looks like one of my kidneys.


16 posted on 03/12/2025 3:35:14 PM PDT by Deaf and Discerning
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

I’m planning on getting myself outside in the wee hours to see it, and maybe photograph it. It will be the only one we’ll be able to see in this part of the world this year. I hope it’s clear….


17 posted on 03/12/2025 4:11:30 PM PDT by telescope115 (I NEED MY SPACE!!! 🔭)
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To: MtnClimber

Where is the Fiddledee galaxy?


18 posted on 03/12/2025 8:46:30 PM PDT by minnesota_bound (Need more money to buy everything now)
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