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 featured image does. Although today's 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 featured 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 Helmet, the Cartwheel 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: The Asterisk. Finally, the collagist has graciously hidden APOD's 10th anniversary Vermeer photomontage just to honor APOD. (Thanks!)

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Well, I found the APOD's 10th anniversary Vermeer photomontage - it is in the window in the house to the lower right of the church.

But where, where, where is the open cluster???

Ann

I think I count 18 items in the collage - but I have not identified them all. I think that the Cat's Eye and the Helix nebulas are here.

Isn't the open star cluster at the top of the church steeple?

El Gordo wrote: Isn't the open star cluster at the top of the church steeple?

No, that's a distant quasar being lensed into four different images!

Ann

I see an Einstein Cross.

The image atop the steeple being a lensed quasar does make more sense, it is too symmetrical. That being so, I cannot find the open star cluster either.
Only "star" items I see are near center of the collage, below right of the comet - as dust nebulae and stellar nurseries. I am unable to identify them
by name and I am not sure if it is supposed to be one item or up to three different ones.

Gloome,

Oh yes, you're right... It is the Einstein Cross in Pegasus. It has the same leftward offset for the top and bottom points.
Makes sense, too.... Locate the cross above a church steeple.

This may help - but do NOT look before you have REALLY tried and are DESPERATE!

Spoiler: http://imgur.com/k4NBilB

Starting from the top left.... I don't know what the first image is, but the next one right I want to say is NGC3132 (Eight-Burst) and next to it the Cat's Eye nebula and right of that is Supernova 1987A, further right the Ant Nebula. Directly below NGC3132 would be the Eskimo Nebula. I haven't been able to discern what the item directly below the comet's tail is. I think it is a nebula, but maybe it is the Sombrero Galaxy on edge?

Bottom left corner I see Thor's Helmet and above, next to the plant, the Crab nebula. Left of the Crab there are two(?) objects. Neither one looks familiar to me. Not sure the swooshing white glob is supposed to be anything.

Right of the Einstein Cross atop the steeple there is a large rounded hill, directly above the top of that
I believe the image is the Cartwheel Galaxy. To the left of the steeple and above, next to the plant, I
think that is obviously the spiral galaxy.

Thanks very much for all the hints + BIG THANK YOU APOD for having this amazing website!

I found the Vermeer in the window of the house. that was clever.

I never would have got the Vermeer one without Ann's info. I didn't know what I was looking for there at all.
With that extra help, I believe I detect 18 objects. I hope I properly ID'd 12 of those by name, but I still don't
see the star cluster which would then make it 19 objects. There are at least six objects that I do see, but don't
know what they are. Maybe there are even more.

Found Waldo.

To the right of the Ant Nebula, I see the moon in penumbral eclipse. With the Eskimo Nebula to the right of the tree, I see the Witchhead Nebula to the left of the tree.

I thnk I spot Eagle's nebula, the pillars of creation at 1 'OClock of the Church Steeple

The 1 o'clock from the steeple looks more like the Horsehead Nebula to me.

El Gordo wrote:Right of the Einstein Cross atop the steeple there is a large rounded hill, directly above the top of that
I believe the image is the Cartwheel Galaxy. To the left of the steeple and above, next to the plant, I
think that is obviously the spiral galaxy.

That is indeed the Cartwheel galaxy, and I'm pretty sure that the large spiral galaxy is M101.

Ann

Priya S wrote:I thnk I spot Eagle's nebula, the pillars of creation at 1 'OClock of the Church Steeple

Right you are!

Ann

p disney wrote:To the right of the Ant Nebula, I see the moon in penumbral eclipse. With the Eskimo Nebula to the right of the tree, I see the Witchhead Nebula to the left of the tree.

Indeed! Well spotted!

Ann

I find it quite amusing to see the guys who do this, located in the tiny little window in the town...very clever!

I think the pink dots in the sky may be " the Antennae" Galaxies.
Eta Carinae is the the right of rings of SN1987A and Horsehead Nebula is next to Cartwheel Galaxy.

Anybody spot the teapot yet?

IF Van Gogh had been an Astronomer....
Thor's Helmet isn't even in the sky....lame...

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"Oh, and look...there is a Camel going across it...."
--Benny Hill Show...

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