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Astronomy Picture of the Day - Arp 78: Peculiar Galaxy in Aries
NASA ^ | 30 Sep. 2026 | Credit & Copyright Robert Eder, Authors & editors: Jerry Bonnell, Cecilia Chirenti, Robert Nemiroff,

Posted on 09/30/2026 12:02:57 PM PDT by MtnClimber

Explanation: Peculiar spiral galaxy Arp 78 is found within the boundaries of the head strong constellation Aries. Some 100 million light-years beyond the stars and nebulae of our Milky Way galaxy, the island universe is an enormous 200,000 light-years across. Also known as NGC 772, it sports a prominent, outer spiral arm in this detailed cosmic portrait. Tracking along sweeping dust lanes and lined with young blue star clusters, Arp 78's overdeveloped spiral arm is pumped-up by galactic-scale gravitational tides. Interactions with its brightest companion galaxy, the more compact NGC 770 seen directly below the larger spiral, are likely responsible. Embedded in faint star streams revealed in the deep telescopic exposure, NGC 770's fuzzy, elliptical appearance contrasts nicely with spiky foreground Milky Way stars.


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

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1 posted on 09/30/2026 12:02:58 PM PDT by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 09/30/2026 12:03:18 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: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 31R1O; 4everontheRight; A Navy Vet; A_perfect_lady; abb; AFB-XYZ; ...
Pinging the APOD list

🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔

3 posted on 09/30/2026 12:04:17 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’s The Paisley Galaxy............60’s man, groovy!......


4 posted on 09/30/2026 12:08:17 PM PDT by Red Badger (Iryna Zarutska, May 22, 2002 Kyiv, Ukraine – August 22, 2025 Charlotte, North Carolina Say her name)
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To: Red Badger

5 posted on 09/30/2026 12:36:51 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is opinion or satire. Or both.)
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To: BenLurkin

Looks like Karen Carpenter?............


6 posted on 09/30/2026 1:14:35 PM PDT by Red Badger (Iryna Zarutska, May 22, 2002 Kyiv, Ukraine – August 22, 2025 Charlotte, North Carolina Say her name)
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To: MtnClimber

Wow.


7 posted on 09/30/2026 1:55:58 PM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: MtnClimber

Whoa ... major turbulence. Might even look like a squashed tornado from the side?


8 posted on 09/30/2026 1:58:37 PM PDT by Tellurian (Dems are the (crypto)globalist's puppets.)
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To: Red Badger

That is Karen Carpenter. The song “Calling occupants of interplanetary craft”


9 posted on 09/30/2026 2:17:01 PM PDT by DannyTN
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To: Red Badger

That’s a great name for it!


10 posted on 09/30/2026 2:58:48 PM PDT by telescope115 (Ad Astra, Ad Deum…)
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To: DannyTN

An old Klaatu song.........


11 posted on 09/30/2026 4:17:55 PM PDT by Red Badger (Iryna Zarutska, May 22, 2002 Kyiv, Ukraine – August 22, 2025 Charlotte, North Carolina Say her name)
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To: MtnClimber

It looks like 2 galaxies collided and the spiral is still reforming.


12 posted on 09/30/2026 4:40:23 PM PDT by minnesota_bound (Making money now. Still want much more.)
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