{
  "id": 6701777,
  "title": "APOD: 2026 September 11 – M83: The Southern Pinwheel",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/apod-2026-september-11-m83-the-southern-pinwheel",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-11T04:05:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "NASA Science",
    "slug": "nasa-science",
    "url": "https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-september-11-m83-the-southern-pinwheel/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day, dated September 11, 2026, showcases the beautiful and bright spiral galaxy M83, also known as the Southern Pinwheel. Located approximately twelve million light-years away, near the southeastern tip of the constellation Hydra, this galaxy's prominent spiral arms, traced by dark dust lanes and blue star clusters, give it its popular moniker. However, the reddish star-forming regions scattered throughout its spiral arms have earned it an additional nickname, the Thousand-Ruby Galaxy.\n\nAt a mere 40,000 light-years across, M83 is smaller than our own Milky Way galaxy. It belongs to a group of galaxies, including the active galaxy Centaurus A. Interestingly, the core of M83 is bright at x-ray energies, indicating a high concentration of neutron stars and black holes resulting from an intense burst of star formation.\n\nThis ground-based telescopic view features not only M83 but also foreground Milky Way stars and distant background galaxies. The main NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day website is undergoing a move from apod.nasa.gov to science.nasa.gov/apod.",
  "summary": "The post APOD: 2026 September 11 – M83: The Southern Pinwheel appeared first on NASA Science .",
  "key_points": [
    "M83, also known as Southern Pinwheel, is a bright spiral galaxy",
    "Located 12 million light-years away in constellation Hydra",
    "Features prominent spiral arms and reddish star-forming regions"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The stunning image of M83, or the Southern Pinwheel, highlights its unique characteristics, such as dark dust lanes, blue star clusters, and reddish star-forming regions, setting it apart from other galaxies.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "NASA",
        "title": "APOD: 2026 September 11 – M83: The Southern Pinwheel",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/apod-2026-september-11-m83-the-southern-pinwheel-6714642",
        "published": "2026-09-11T04:05:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}