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APOD
Astronomy Picture of the Day
Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
NGC 55: A Galaxy of Nebulas
Explanation: Can you see nebulas in other galaxies? Yes, some nebulas shine brightly enough -- if you know how to look. Clouds of hydrogen and oxygen emit light at very specific colors, and by isolating them, astronomers and astrophotographers can reveal structures that would otherwise be too faint to notice. This deep, 50-hour exposure highlights glowing hydrogen (red) and oxygen (blue) across galaxy NGC 55 , viewed nearly edge-on . Also known as the String of Pearls Galaxy, NGC 55 is often compared to our Milky Way 's satellite galaxy the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), although NGC 55 lies much farther away at about 6.5 million light-years . The resulting image uncovers a sprinkling of emission nebula s within and sometimes above the galaxy's dusty disk , offering a detailed look at distant star -forming regions.
Jigsaw Galaxy: Astronomy Puzzle of the Day
| Date | January 26, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Credit | Image Credit & Copyright: Wolfgang Promper ; Text: Ogetay Kayali ( MTU ) |
| Authors & editors: | Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) |
| A service of: |
ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U. |