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Astronomy Picture of the Day - LDN 1295: The Giraffe Nebula
NASA ^ | 10 Sept, 2026 | Image Credit & Copyright: Alessandro Merga Text: Cecilia Chirenti (NASA GSFC, UMCP, CRESST II)

Posted on 09/10/2026 1:29:17 PM PDT by MtnClimber

Explanation: What does this image look like to you? Many see a giraffe facing right, with neck stretched high and long legs mid-stride (but some may see a squirrel instead). The featured image shows LDN 1295, also called the Giraffe Nebula, in the constellation of the mythical queen of Aethiopia (Cassiopeia). It is an object in the Lynds Catalogue of Dark Nebulas, compiled in 1962 by American astronomer Beverly Lynds, a pioneer for women in astronomy and astrophysics. Dark nebulas are interstellar clouds of dust and gas that block the visible light of the stars behind them. These nebulas are often faint and challenging targets for astrophotographers. Why do we see animal shapes and faces in nebulas, clouds, and pretty much everywhere? It is due to pareidolia, our tendency to look for familiar patterns. Pareidolia may provide animals with an evolutionary advantage, for example in identifying (and avoiding) predators.

(Excerpt) Read more at apod.nasa.gov ...


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

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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.

Please note: I will not be able to post the APOD on Saturday, 12 Aug, 2026 due to unavoidable travel

1 posted on 09/10/2026 1:29:17 PM PDT by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 09/10/2026 1:30:46 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
Pinging the APOD list

🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔

Please note: I will not be able to post the APOD on Saturday, 12 Aug, 2026 due to unavoidable travel

3 posted on 09/10/2026 1:31:08 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

I will post the Sept 12 APOD on Sunday Sept, 13.


4 posted on 09/10/2026 1:41:30 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

That Giraffe is skinny. It needs to find the Tree Nebula.


5 posted on 09/10/2026 1:48:56 PM PDT by DannyTN
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To: MtnClimber

Wow.


6 posted on 09/10/2026 1:49:59 PM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: MtnClimber

Nice!


7 posted on 09/10/2026 3:17:39 PM PDT by telescope115 (Ad Astra, Ad Deum…)
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