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Astronomy Picture of the Day - Blue Arcs Toward Andromeda
NASA ^ | 4 Aug, 2025 | Image Credit & Copyright: Ogle et al.

Posted on 08/04/2025 12:43:06 PM PDT by MtnClimber

Explanation: What are these gigantic blue arcs near the Andromeda Galaxy (M31)? Discovered in 2022 by amateur astronomers, the faint arcs -- dubbed SDSO 1 -- span nearly the same angular size as M31 itself. At first, their origin was a mystery: are they actually near the Andromeda Galaxy, or alternatively near to our Sun? Now, over 550 hours of combined exposure and a collaboration between amateur and professional astronomers has revealed strong evidence for their true nature: SDSO 1 is not intergalactic, but a new class of planetary nebula within our galaxy. Dubbed a Ghost Planetary Nebula (GPN), SDSO 1 is the first recognized member of a new subclass of faded planetary nebulas, along with seven others also recently identified. Shown in blue are extremely faint oxygen emission from the shock waves, while the surrounding red is a hydrogen-emitting trail that indicates the GPN's age.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; nasa

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1 posted on 08/04/2025 12:43:06 PM PDT by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 08/04/2025 12:43:28 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

🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔

3 posted on 08/04/2025 12:44:22 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

Orcs? I thought Gandalf and the boys finished off most of the orcs.

Oh, ARCS!

Well, that’s a relief.


4 posted on 08/04/2025 1:07:41 PM PDT by Hebrews 11:6 (“…all who were appointed for eternal life believed.” Acts 13:48)
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To: Hebrews 11:6
I knew genies came from somewhere..

5 posted on 08/04/2025 1:27:56 PM PDT by Waverunner (Torah! Torah! Torah! my favorite IDF radio code.)
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To: Waverunner

Yes, in the immortal words of Bullwinkle the Moose, “Meeny meeny chili beanie the spirits are about to speak.”


6 posted on 08/04/2025 2:13:19 PM PDT by Hebrews 11:6 (“…all who were appointed for eternal life believed.” Acts 13:48)
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To: MtnClimber

The Great Feather Snatch of M31 Red Robin

7 posted on 08/04/2025 3:08:34 PM PDT by Deaf and Discerning
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To: MtnClimber

It’s many amateur astronomers’ dream to discover something- a comet, an asteroid, a nova…to be part of a discovery is awesome. An amazing picture.


8 posted on 08/04/2025 3:10:07 PM PDT by telescope115 (I NEED MY SPACE!!! 🔭)
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To: MtnClimber
Dubbed a Ghost Planetary Nebula (GPN), SDSO 1 is...

Dang - you revealed where he lives.

SpaceGhost</img

Now he'll never get the Klingons off his butt.

9 posted on 08/04/2025 3:28:00 PM PDT by MikelTackNailer (We can be heroes... just for one day. Whatcha' say?)
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