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Astronomy Picture of the Day - Galaxy NGC 474: Shells and Star Streams
NASA ^ | 12 Jul, 2026 | Image Credit & License: CFHT, Coelum, MegaCam, J.-C. Cuillandre (CFHT) & G. A. Anselmi (Coelum)

Posted on 07/12/2026 12:58:38 PM PDT by MtnClimber

Explanation: What's happening to galaxy NGC 474? The multiple layers of emission appear strangely complex given the relatively featureless appearance of the elliptical galaxy in less deep images. The cause of the shells is a topic of research, but they are possibly tidal tails related to debris left over from absorbing numerous small galaxies in the past billion years. Alternatively, the shells may be like ripples in a pond, where the ongoing collision with the spiral galaxy just to the right of NGC 474 is causing density waves to ripple through the galactic giant. Regardless of the actual cause, the featured image dramatically highlights the increasing evidence that the halos of some elliptical galaxies are surprisingly complicated. Similarly, the halo of our own Milky Way Galaxy is one example of such unexpected intricacies. NGC 474 spans about 250,000 light years and lies about 100 million light years distant toward the constellation of the Fish (Pisces).


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

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1 posted on 07/12/2026 12:58:38 PM PDT by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 07/12/2026 12:58:53 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

๐Ÿช ๐ŸŒŸ ๐ŸŒŒ ๐Ÿ”

3 posted on 07/12/2026 12:59:28 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: MtnClimber

Wow.


4 posted on 07/12/2026 1:08:59 PM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who youโ€™ll know me as )
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To: MtnClimber
and lies about 100 million light years distant toward the constellation of the Fish (Pisces)...

That's beaucoup longway, GI.
5 posted on 07/12/2026 1:14:01 PM PDT by ComputerGuy
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To: MtnClimber

Wow!


6 posted on 07/12/2026 1:17:30 PM PDT by 1035rep
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To: MtnClimber

What on earth?!


7 posted on 07/12/2026 2:17:42 PM PDT by NavyShoe
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To: MtnClimber

Looks like Darth Vaders fighter.

Being chased by a delicious cheeseburger.


8 posted on 07/12/2026 3:04:05 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancerโ€ )
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To: ComputerGuy
That's beaucoup longway, GI.

Sure, but look at the background.

9 posted on 07/12/2026 3:15:56 PM PDT by BlackbirdSST (FTL)
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To: MtnClimber

I am struck speechless by the glory of God’s Creation, that along with everything else in Creation, such a wonderful and beautiful structure should come into existence and that we should be so privileged to discover and view it.

To be sure, God’s Creation strikes me speechless fairly often. But this one really took it to another level. :-)


10 posted on 07/12/2026 3:21:51 PM PDT by dayglored (This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24)
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