Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]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.

                                2024 July 30
     [2]Two large interacting galaxies are shown. The upper galaxy, has
     significant internal structure and is curved over the lower galaxy
      which is a featureless oval. Please see the explanation for more
                            detailed information.

                   Arp 142: Interacting Galaxies from Webb
      Image Credit: [3]NASA, [4]ESA, [5]CSA, [6]STScI; Hubble Rollover
                Reprocessing & Copyright: [7]Raul Villaverde

   Explanation: To some, it looks like a penguin. But to people who study
   the universe, it is an interesting example of two big galaxies
   interacting. Just a few hundred million years ago, the upper NGC 2936
   was likely a [8]normal spiral galaxy: spinning, creating stars, and
   minding its own business. Then it got too close to the massive
   [9]elliptical galaxy NGC 2937, below, and took a dive. Together known
   as [10]Arp 142, they are [11]featured in this new [12]Webb [13]infrared
   image, while a [14]visible light [15]Hubble image appears in
   comparison. NGC 2936 is not only being deflected, but [16]distorted, by
   this close gravitational interaction. When massive galaxies [17]pass
   near each other, gas is typically condensed from which [18]new stars
   form. A [19]young group of stars appears as the nose of the [20]penguin
   toward the right of the upper galaxy, while in the center of the
   [21]spiral, bright stars together appear as an eye. Before a billion
   years, the [22]two galaxies will likely merge into one larger galaxy.

              Explore Your Universe: [23]Random APOD Generator
                  Tomorrow's picture: unusual spots on Mars
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    Authors & editors: [35]Robert Nemiroff ([36]MTU) & [37]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([38]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [39]Specific rights apply.
            [40]NASA Web Privacy, [41]Accessibility, [42]Notices;
                A service of: [43]ASD at [44]NASA / [45]GSFC,
                         [46]NASA Science Activation
                           & [47]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2407/Arp142_Webb_1487.jpg
   3. https://www.nasa.gov/
   4. https://www.esa.int/
   5. https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/
   6. https://www.stsci.edu/
   7. https://www.flickr.com/photos/113243238@N08/
   8. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130416.html
   9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elliptical_galaxy
  10. https://webbtelescope.org/contents/media/images/2024/124/01J06XYGEDEE86D1H9N5EJ9EG0
  11. https://esawebb.org/news/weic2420/
  12. https://webb.nasa.gov/content/webbLaunch/whereIsWebb.html
  13. https://science.nasa.gov/ems/07_infraredwaves/
  14. https://science.nasa.gov/ems/09_visiblelight/
  15. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/
  16. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240320.html
  17. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130825.html
  18. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/science/science-highlights/exploring-the-birth-of-stars/
  19. https://img.freepik.com/premium-photo/group-kittens-are-sitting-together-one-which-is-labeled-as-cat_900958-25003.jpg
  20. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penguin#/media/File:Penguin_in_Antarctica_jumping_out_of_the_water.jpg
  21. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiral_galaxy
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220606.html
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/random_apod.html
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240729.html
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  28. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  30. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  31. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  32. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  33. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=240730
  34. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240731.html
  35. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  36. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  37. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  38. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  39. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  40. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  41. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  42. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  43. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  44. https://www.nasa.gov/
  45. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  46. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  47. http://www.mtu.edu/