Today's picture features NGC 3239and SN 2012A. NGC 3239 is the very irregular but gigantic galaxy pictured front and center. In the constellation Leo, this galaxy occupies a grand total of roughly 40 thousand light years and is a mere 25 million light years away. The general belief is that this galaxy is the result of two galaxies colliding in a an epic stellar car crash. SN 2012A is a supernova featured in the main, lower body area of the Galaxy and was the first confirmed supernova of 2012...but, this occurred 25 million years ago because we are 25 million light years away from the galaxy.
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap120127.html
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