Astronomy Picture of the Day is published daily by NASA, featuring fascinating photographs taken by astrophotographers around the world. Photos from this week include the Running Chicken Nebula, the North Star and more.
Running Chicken Nebula (April 10) – This is a snapshot of IC 2944, also known as Running Chicken Nebula. According to NASA, it is located about 6,000 light-years away from the constellation Centaurus and spans almost 100 light-years. The nebula’s odd nickname, Running Chicken, comes from the chicken-like shape of its brightest region, which resembles a running bird. (NASA/Daniel Stern)
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Running Chicken Nebula (April 10) – This is a snapshot of IC 2944, also known as Running Chicken Nebula. According to NASA, it is located about 6,000 light-years away from the constellation Centaurus and spans almost 100 light-years. The nebula’s odd nickname, Running Chicken, comes from the chicken-like shape of its brightest region, which resembles a running bird. (NASA/Daniel Stern)
Polaris, the North Star (April 11) – This is a fascinating image of Polaris and the dust surrounding it. Although there are 200 trillion stars in the sky, Polaris is particularly special because it can help you orient yourself as it is located in the direction of true north. It is also known as the North Star or Polar Star and is present in the constellation of Ursa Minor. (NASA/Javier Zayaz)
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Polaris, the North Star (April 11) – This is a fascinating image of Polaris and the dust surrounding it. Although there are 200 trillion stars in the sky, Polaris is particularly special because it can help you orient yourself as it is located in the direction of true north. It is also known as the North Star or Polar Star and is present in the constellation of Ursa Minor. (NASA/Javier Zayaz)
Star Cloud in the Andromeda Galaxy (April 12) – This captured image shows the NGC 206 star cloud in the Andromeda Galaxy. It is the brightest star cloud in the galaxy seen from Earth. Also known as Messier 31, it is a spiral galaxy located about 2.5 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Andromeda. According to NASA, the Andromeda galaxy is twice the size of our own Milky Way galaxy, spanning nearly 260,000 light-years and containing more than 1 trillion stars. (NASA/Howard Trottier)
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Star Cloud in the Andromeda Galaxy (April 12) – This captured image shows the NGC 206 star cloud in the Andromeda Galaxy. It is the brightest star cloud in the galaxy seen from Earth. Also known as Messier 31, it is a spiral galaxy located about 2.5 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Andromeda. According to NASA, the Andromeda galaxy is twice the size of our own Milky Way galaxy, spanning almost 260,000 light-years and containing more than 1 trillion stars. (NASA/Howard Trottier)
Globular star cluster NGC 2419 (April 13) – This is globular star cluster NGC 2419. It is a multi-generational star cluster located about 300,000 light-years away in the constellation Lynx. According to NASA, the stars populating globular clusters are very similar because they formed around the same time and because of this they tend to display similar properties. (NASA/ESA/Hubble)
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Globular star cluster NGC 2419 (April 13) – This is globular star cluster NGC 2419. It is a multi-generational star cluster located about 300,000 light-years away in the constellation Lynx. According to NASA, the stars populating globular clusters are very similar because they formed around the same time and because of this they tend to display similar properties. (NASA/ESA/Hubble)
Fascinating Hamburger Galaxy (April 14) – This is a fascinating snapshot of NGC 3628, also known as Hamburger Galaxy. It is a spiral galaxy located about 35 million light-years away from the constellation Leo and spans about 100,000 light-years. According to NASA, NGC 3628 shares its neighborhood in the local Universe with two other large spirals M65 and M66 in a group otherwise known as the Leo Triplet. (NASA/Mike Selby/Mark Hanson)
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Fascinating Hamburger Galaxy (April 14) – This is a fascinating snapshot of NGC 3628, also known as Hamburger Galaxy. It is a spiral galaxy located about 35 million light-years away from the constellation Leo and spans about 100,000 light-years. According to NASA, NGC 3628 shares its neighborhood in the local Universe with two other large spirals M65 and M66 in a group otherwise known as the Leo Triplet. (NASA/Mike Selby/Mark Hanson)
Date of first publication: April 14, 2:20 PM IST
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