Starship Asterisk*

Starry Night Scavenger Hunt

Explanation: Did you know that Van Gogh's painting Starry Night includes Comet Hale-Bopp? Hopefully not, because it doesn't. But the above image does. Although today's featured picture may appear at first glance to be a faithful digital reproduction of the original Starry Night, actually it is a modern rendition meant not only to honor one of the most famous paintings of the second millennium, but to act as a scavenger hunt. Can you find, in the above image, a comet, a spiral galaxy, an open star cluster, and a supernova remnant? Too easy? OK, then find, the rings of Supernova 1987A, the Eskimo Nebula, the Crab Nebula, Thor's Helmut, the Carhwheel Galaxy, and the Ant Nebula. Still too easy? Then please identify any more hidden images not mentioned here -- and there are several -- on APOD's main discussion board: Starship Asterisk. Finally, the collagist has graciously hidden APOD's 10th anniversary Vermeer photomontage to help honor APOD on its 15th anniversary tomorrow.

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I see Einstein Cross, the gravitational lensed quasar!

I see the Sombrero Gallaxy and the one in the middle I do not recognize, it looks so beautiful though. And the one on the bottom of it toward the left I've never seen either. Can you tel me what it is? Then toward the left of the Cartwheel Gallaxy is one of the Pillars of Creation in the Orion Nebula I believe. What is that funny little green thing on the left of the center gallaxy??
(Did anyone notice the moon inside the moon? It took me a while to find it!)

Whoever made this did a good job! Its so beautiful and makes the stars and gallaxies look even more outstanding.

I see that someone's been watching Doctor Who. Hoorah!

Yes!!! I'm so glad that this splendid image was made Astronomy Picture of the Day!! Congratulations, Ronnie!

Ann

I see large amounts of dark matter in the painting! Well, we can't actually see it, but I know it is there based on the fact that there is insufficient gravitational force from the mass of the visible objects in the painting for it to actually hold together as presented!!

I see the Horse head nebula, on the left of the church tower.

I see one of the Pillars of Creation next to the Cartwheel Galaxy.

Also, there's a group of 5 stars I don't recognize at the top of the tallest building in the background.

Visit The Observation Deck.

Check out more APOD Birthday Collage Submissions
and see more of the Latest Sky Photography.

While there, vote for May's Picture of the Month
and last week's Picture of the Week (June 6-12).

BTW: Congratulations Ronnie on your APOD selection.

lake wrote:I see Einstein Cross, the gravitational lensed quasar!

You beat me to it!

Most surprising find is the Withch head nebula!!Very well hidden just below top left.

The "Vermeer" is in the window of a house below the church, but what's that thing in the lower left?

"Thor's Helmut?"? I know 'Helmut' - he was a minor character passing in some Norse or Icelandic epic or other - but I really doubt that a butch chap like Thor would ever have considered him 'his'.

Eta Carina

I see dead people...2012 is coming, the apocalyptic is near...

yasgur wrote:The "Vermeer" is in the window of a house below the church, but what's that thing in the lower left?

It does look similar to the "Vermeer" but there seems to be two people. (are there two people in the Vermeer?) Plus are you referring to the extreme corner of the painting? It looks to me like an alien or one of those animated e-mail emotions. I hope they give us an answer key soon since I also see something in the bushes. This is starting to sound like a scary sci-fiction movie.

Happy 15th Anniversary, APOD!!!
And wish you many more to come.
Thank you for putting a smile on my face every morning I start the browser.

Cheers,
Smita

I had also found:

In the top of the image, from left to right: "The Sombrero Galaxy", "The Cat’s Eye Nebula", Ringed Supernova 19877A, "The Ant Nebula", and "The Medusa Nebula" (the big one form Sun-like on the upper right edge).

To the right of "The Medusa Nebula", near the upper right corner, there is a patch which, closely observed, seems Saturn and its Galilean Moons, with the planet even partially occulted.

Under "Sombrero Galaxy" there is "The Eskimo Nebula", and to the right, a comet, maybe Hale-Bopp? A bigger comet is visible in the left edge, and near its head is "The Crab Nebula".

The five stars upper the church tower maybe are the brighter stars of The Pleiades, but I’m not sure about it.

I see the spirograph and eskimo nebulae.

RChristian wrote:

yasgur wrote:The "Vermeer" is in the window of a house below the church, but what's that thing in the lower left?

It does look similar to the "Vermeer" but there seems to be two people. (are there two people in the Vermeer?) Plus are you referring to the extreme corner of the painting? It looks to me like an alien or one of those animated e-mail emotions. I hope they give us an answer key soon since I also see something in the bushes. This is starting to sound like a scary sci-fiction movie.

"The Vermeer" refers to the APOD 10th anniversary collage, a modified Vermeer that can be seen here: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap050616.html

Sure can't say what's in the lower left . . .

I found at least 15 things. Are you going to post the answer? Will you make available the collage in say an 10X12 or 12X18 poster format. I would buy it to hang on my wall. This is SUPER.

That's the southern cross atop the steeple.

Ankh wrote:I see that someone's been watching Doctor Who. Hoorah!

The Doctor is big

ElGordo wrote:I see large amounts of dark matter in the painting! Well, we can't actually see it, but I know it is there based on the fact that there is insufficient gravitational force from the mass of the visible objects in the painting for it to actually hold together as presented!!

FANTASTIC answer! Made me laugh.

Did anyone notice the word "Hi" in red on the roof next to the church?

This is great!!!