                        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.

                              2023 February 23

                      Arp 78: Peculiar Galaxy in Aries
                   Image Credit & Copyright: Josep Drudis

   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 above and
   right of 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 in matching yellowish hues.

                 Tomorrow's picture: beyond Jones-Emberson 1
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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