Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Nā ʻUhane Māhoe Huki Pū i ke Ola
NASA ^ | 4 Sep, 2024 | Image Credit: International Gemini Observatory / NOIRLab/NSF/AURA Image Processing: J. Miller & M. R

Posted on 09/04/2026 12:31:35 PM PDT by MtnClimber

Explanation: Nā ʻUhane Māhoe Huki Pū i ke Ola, is the Hawaiian name given to this image of a pair of spiral galaxies locked in a mutual gravitational embrace. Some 200 million light-years distant toward the high flying constellation Pegasus their spectacular, galactic scale merger is captured in sharp detail in the image from the 8.1 meter Gemini North telescope on Maunakea, Hawai‘i. The galaxy pair, known as NGC 7253 and Arp 278, was chosen as a target, researched, and given a Hawaiian name by high school students in the joint Gemini Observatory and University of Hawaiʻi Project Hōkūlani internship program. The name translates to "The Twin Spirits Pulling Together Creating Life". That's both culturally and astronomically appropriate for galaxy collisions that trigger a cosmic maelstrom of star formation from galactic reservoirs of elemental building blocks of life. These merging galaxies are found within a region of Pegasus identified as the Hawaiian navigational constellation Ka Lupe o Kawelo.


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

Click here: to donate by Credit Card

Or here: to donate by PayPal

Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794

Thank you very much and God bless you.


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-27 last
To: MtnClimber

There seems to be an arch of galaxies accross the top right hand corner of the picture.

Would that be gravitational lensing or just a galactic chicken dance.


21 posted on 09/04/2026 2:14:59 PM PDT by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminisheRs the human spirit.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: humblegunner
If Rellic wants to be added they can send me a FRmail and I will add for free. That's generous.

So what will you do if paid?

Depends, is your last name Musk?

22 posted on 09/04/2026 2:17:09 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Pontiac

Except for the close stars with diffraction spikes (I think there were two), every bright object is a galaxy. They are either spiral, elliptical or globular clusters, though I doubt you could see globular clusters at this distance.


23 posted on 09/04/2026 2:24:13 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: faithhopecharity
is that headline Biden or McConnell trying to speak?

Or Dis-Kamala-bulated. Heh. :-)

24 posted on 09/04/2026 3:24:40 PM PDT by AFB-XYZ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: AFB-XYZ

Ha!


25 posted on 09/04/2026 6:35:14 PM PDT by faithhopecharity ("Politicians aren't born, they're excreted." Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 to 43 BCE))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber
M.C. What is that Microsoft assistant, Clippy?

Dude! Seriously! It looks like Clippy on a pink acid trip imagining himself as a Baboon shaped from an interstellar cloud of hemp smoke!

(I have no idea how this thought came into my head, but I do want to thank you for posting these NASA pictures!)

26 posted on 09/04/2026 7:55:35 PM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: faithhopecharity

Looks like a crab eating.........


27 posted on 09/05/2026 1:27:37 AM PDT by Red Badger (Iryna Zarutska, May 22, 2002 Kyiv, Ukraine – August 22, 2025 Charlotte, North Carolina Say her)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-27 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson