                        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 March 7
       A galaxy is pictured that appears mostly blue and white with a
    prominent bar across its center. The galaxy is the LMC, and thousands
   of dim stars from our Milky Way, in the foreground, complete the frame.
          Please see the explanation for more detailed information.

                   Deep Field: The Large Magellanic Cloud
       Image Credit & Copyright: Yuri Beletsky (Carnegie Las Campanas
                             Observatory, TWAN)

   Explanation: Is this a spiral galaxy? No. Actually, it is the Large
   Magellanic Cloud (LMC), the largest satellite galaxy of our own Milky
   Way Galaxy. The LMC is classified as a dwarf irregular galaxy because
   of its normally chaotic appearance. In this deep and wide exposure,
   however, the full extent of the LMC becomes visible. Surprisingly,
   during longer exposures, the LMC begins to resemble a barred spiral
   galaxy. The Large Magellanic Cloud lies only about 180,000 light-years
   distant towards the constellation of the Dolphinfish (Dorado). Spanning
   about 15,000 light-years, the LMC was the site of SN1987A, the
   brightest and closest supernova in modern times. Together with the
   Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), the LMC can be seen in Earth's southern
   hemisphere with the unaided eye.

     Your Sky Surprise: What picture did APOD feature on your birthday?
                                 (post 1995)
                   Tomorrow's picture: artificially bright
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