Picture of the Day · NASA
NGC 3660 and Burçin's Galaxy
2026-05-26
The upper galaxy might be more photogenic, but the lower galaxy is more unusual. The galaxy up top is NGC 3660, a spiral galaxy similar to our own Milky Way galaxy in that it has several bright blue spiral arms and a central bar of stars, dust, and gas. Captured by chance in the featured deep and colorful image, surprisingly, is SN 2026cff, a supernova found just to the right of the central bar. Farther in the distance is the bottom galaxy, known informally as Burçin’s galaxy, but formally cataloged as LEDA 1000714. The center of this galaxy appears to be an old elliptical galaxy, but it is strangely surrounded by not one but two rings of stars. What created Burçin's galaxy is a mystery and remains a continuing topic of research, but it likely involves the accretion of one or more smaller galaxies.
via NASA APOD
Key facts
- Discovered by
- Auguste Charlois
- Discovery site
- Nice Observatory
- Discovery date
- 8 January 1894
- Pronunciation
- / h juː ˈ ɛ n ə /
- Named after
- Ven , Sweden
- Alternative designations
Article
379 Huenna is a large asteroid located in the main asteroid belt. It was discovered by French astronomer Auguste Charlois on 8 January 1984 at Nice Observatory, and was named after the Swedish island of Ven. Classified as a primitive B-type or C-type asteroid, it is a member of the Themis family. It is estimated to be roughly 87.5 kilometres (54.4 mi) in diameter, rotating once ever 14.14 hours.
Huenna has one known moon, designated S/2003 (379) 1. The moon, which is currently unnamed, was discovered on 14 August 2003 by Jean-Luc Margot at Keck Observatory. It orbits Huenna on a wide and eccentric 80-day orbit, suggesting that it may be a captured object.