APOD 4.4

Here is a photograph of an usual spiral galaxy. While most spiral galaxies have 2 arms, this galaxy, NGC 4725, only has one. This galaxy is also very large; 100,000 light years across, longer than our Milky Way Galaxy. NGC 4725 lies 41 million light years across from our home galaxy, and appears to be rotating clockwise, due to the trailing single arm of the galaxy.

APOD 4.3

Photographed is the spiral galaxy NGC 2903, about 20 million light years away from our solar system. This galaxy is visible in the Spring constellation Leo, and is very popular among astronomers. The galaxy features many beautiful colors with innumerable star clusters, producing new stars at a very rapid rate. This galaxy is very similar in size to our own, measuring 80,000 light years across.

APOD 4.2

Sweden is known worldwide as an ideal viewing location for Aurorae, and this stunning Aurora in Kiruna, Sweden proves this perfectly. This aurora greatly resembles an immense flag hanging over the countryside. This aurora was the result of a recent Coronal Mass Ejection, which passed through a channel in the Earth's Magnetic Field. The result- a beautiful aurora featuring a variety of vivid colors.

APOD 4.1

As we are now transitioning into the spring, the familiar constellation Orion is beginning to set in the early evening. Photographed here is Orion, late in the sky. Visible are the two first magnitude stars Betelgeuse and Rigel, along with the asterism known as Orion's belt, and the Horsehead Nebula, M42. Also visible is Aldebaren, the alpha star in the constellation Taurus which borders Orion.