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
- Johann Palisa
- Discovery date
- 25 April 1890
- Alternative designations
- A890 HB, 1930 GM
- Minor planet category
- Main belt
- Observation arc
- 124.62 yr (45516 d)
- Aphelion
- 2.61652 AU (391.426 Gm )
- Perihelion
- 2.44314 AU (365.489 Gm)
- Semi major axis
- 2.52983 AU (378.457 Gm)
- Orbital period sidereal
- 4.02 yr (1469.7 d )
- Mean anomaly
- 26.7727 °
- Mean motion
- 0° 14 41.798 / day
- Inclination
- 14.8967°
- Longitude of ascending node
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- asteroid
- Followed by
- 293 Brasilia
- Follows
- 291 Alice
- Parent body
- Sun
- Minor-planet group
- asteroid belt
- Diameter
- +30.864
- Orbital period
- +1470.824631506097
Show 3 more facts
- P6259
Article
292 Ludovica is a main belt asteroid. It was discovered by the Austrian astronomer Johann Palisa on 25 April 1890 in Vienna. The reason for this name selection is unknown.
Photometric data collected during 2010 was used to produce a light curve for 292 Ludovica, revealing a rotation period of 8.90±0.05 h with a brightness variation of 0.35±0.05 in magnitude. This result is consistent with previous studies.