APOD: 2026 September 4 – Na Uhane Mahoe Huki Pu i ke Ola
The post APOD: 2026 September 4 – Na Uhane Mahoe Huki Pu i ke Ola appeared first on NASA Science .
On September 4, 2026, the Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) featured an image of a pair of spiral galaxies named Nā 'Uhane Māhoe Huki Pū i ke Ola. This designation was given by high school students through a joint project between Gemini Observatory and the University of Hawai'i. Located approximately 200 million light-years away in the constellation Pegasus, the galaxies NGC 7253 and Arp 278 are featured in a close-up image taken by the 8.1 meter Gemini North telescope on Maunakea, Hawaii.
The galaxies, known as the Twin Spirits Pulling Together Creating Life, are indeed culturally and astronomically significant. The collision between these galaxies triggers a powerful cosmic event, igniting star formation from the galaxies' reservoirs of elemental building blocks necessary for life. The image was captured by a team of professionals including J. Miller, M. Rodriguez, J. Bonnell, C. Chirenti, R. Nemiroff, and K. Rockcliffe.
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- APOD: 2026 September 4 – Nā ʻUhane Māhoe Huki Pū i ke Ola science.nasa.gov
