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
- J. Palisa
- Discovery site
- Vienna Observatory
- Discovery date
- 21 October 1911
- Pronunciation
- / h æ ˈ m oʊ n i ə /
- Named after
- Hamburg
- Alternative designations
- 1911 NB
- Observation arc
- 113.17 yr (41337 d)
- Aphelion
- 3.1540 AU (471.83 Gm )
- Perihelion
- 2.8324 AU (423.72 Gm)
- Semi major axis
- 2.9932 AU (447.78 Gm)
- Orbital period sidereal
- 5.18 yr (1891.5 d )
- Mean anomaly
- 71.167 °
- Mean motion
- 0° 11 25.188 / day
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- asteroid
- Followed by
- Q156750
- Follows
- 722 Frieda
- Parent body
- Sun
- Minor-planet group
- asteroid belt
- Diameter
- +23.456
- Orbital period
- +1890.324298048589
Show 4 more facts
- P720
Article
723 Hammonia is a minor planet orbiting the Sun. It was discovered in 1911 and is named after the city of Hamburg. Although the name alludes to Hamburg it was discovered in Vienna.
The asteroid was discovered by the noted and prolific astronomer Johann Palisa. He worked from Pola early in his career and later from Vienna observatories. The same night he discovered Hammonia, he also discovered 724 Hapag and 725 Amanda. He discovered dozens and dozens of asteroids between 1874 and 1923, ranging from 136 Austria to 1073 Gellivara.