Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                              2026 September 16
    [2]Hubble and JWST image of M64. A massive spiral galaxy glows with a
   yellow core, surrounded by arms full of orange-brown dust and pink and
     blue patches of star formation. Framed by a haze of dark dust, the
         galaxy shines against black space dotted with a few stars.

                             Webb's View of M64
     Image Credit: NASA, CSA, ESA, F. Belfiore (ESO), J. Lee (STScI), A.
                     Leroy (OSU), and D. Thilker (JHU);
            Image Processing: G. Kober (NASA/Catholic University)
   Text: [3]Keighley Rockcliffe ([4]NASA [5]GSFC, [6]UMBC CSST, [7]CRESST
                                     II)

   Explanation: Sometimes where [8]Hubble finds darkness, [9]Webb sees
   light. An example is today’s composite images of [10]Messier 64 (M64),
   a nearby [11]spiral galaxy [12]of many names. The dark band of [13]dust
   partially blocking its bright core earned it the moniker “[14]the Black
   Eye Galaxy.” Webb’s [15]Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) sees that dust,
   shown in red, as it absorbs and re-emits light from surrounding newborn
   stars. These young stars are embedded in pink star-forming regions in
   the secondary Hubble-only image. M64’s inner and outer gas regions
   [16]counter-rotate, creating regions of increased star formation where
   the two gas “currents” meet and compress. A merger between M64 and a
   smaller galaxy was likely the cause of the opposing motion of the outer
   gas. Spiral galaxies were once thought to have peaceful histories. M64
   was key evidence that spiral galaxies, including the [17]Milky Way, can
   and do experience mergers. Webb’s view of M64 will tell astronomers
   about the structure, motion, and composition of the galaxy’s dust and
   add context to the galaxy’s merger history and evolution.

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                        Tomorrow's picture: treasure
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    Authors & editors: [32]Robert Nemiroff ([33]MTU) & [34]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([35]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [36]Specific rights apply.
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                         [43]NASA Science Activation
                           & [44]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2609/M64_Webb.jpg
   3. https://kerockcliffe.com/
   4. https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/sci/bio/keighley.e.rockcliffe
   5. https://www.nasa.gov/goddard/
   6. https://csst.umbc.edu/directory/
   7. https://cresst2.umd.edu/
   8. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap010806.html
   9. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/
  10. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/science/explore-the-night-sky/hubble-messier-catalog/messier-64/
  11. https://science.nasa.gov/universe/galaxies/types/
  12. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Eye_Galaxy
  13. https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/news/dust-galaxy
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap230720.html
  15. https://jwst-docs.stsci.edu/jwst-mid-infrared-instrument
  16. https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1992Natur.360..442B/abstract
  17. https://astrobites.org/2019/03/12/hunting-for-stellar-streams/
  18. https://asterisk.apod.com/viewtopic.php?t=45023
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/
  20. https://science.nasa.gov/apod
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260915.html
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  25. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  27. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  30. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=260916
  31. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260917.html
  32. https://www.mtu.edu/physics/department/faculty/nemiroff/
  33. https://www.mtu.edu/physics/
  34. https://inspirehep.net/authors/1073087
  35. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  36. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  37. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  38. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  39. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  40. https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/astrophysics/
  41. https://www.nasa.gov/
  42. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  43. https://science.nasa.gov/learn/about-science-activation/
  44. http://www.mtu.edu/