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
- Discovery date
- 20 June 1917
- Alternative designations
- 1917 CH
- Observation arc
- 98.76 yr (36073 days)
- Aphelion
- 3.3490 AU (501.00 Gm )
- Perihelion
- 2.6681 AU (399.14 Gm)
- Semi major axis
- 3.0085 AU (450.07 Gm)
- Orbital period sidereal
- 5.22 yr (1906.0 d )
- Mean anomaly
- 270.962 °
- Mean motion
- 0° 11 19.932 / day
- Inclination
- 11.361°
- Longitude of ascending node
- 150.966°
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- asteroid
- Followed by
- 877 Walküre
- Follows
- 875 Nymphe
- Parent body
- Sun
- Minor-planet group
- asteroid belt
- Diameter
- +22.42
- Orbital period
- +1904.665635563329
Show 4 more facts
- P720
Article
876 Scott is a minor planet orbiting the Sun.
For a long time, its name had been falsely attributed to Robert Falcon Scott. In fact, it was named by the discoverer in grateful memory of Miss E. Scott, who for a long time selflessly directed the relief efforts of the Society of Friends in Vienna (organized by British and American Quakers) and was particularly concerned with improving the situation of members of Austrian universities. The name therefore honors Ms. E. Scott in recognition of her help and support for the members of Austrian universities after World War I.