Posted on Feb 4, 2026
APOD: 2026 February 4 – Spiral Galaxy NGC 1512: Wide Field
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Good Hump Day afternoon, Rallypoint, and welcome to the February 4, 2026 edition of Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD).
When applied to a galaxy, the term 'secular evolution' means slow, steady evolution due to long-term interactions between the galaxy and its environment (such as gas accretion or galaxy harassment), or internal processes such as the actions of spiral arms or bars. In the case of NGC 1512, this imagery suggests (to me, anyway) evidence of internal secular evolution driven the the central bar. There are three distinct rings here (zoom in on the APOD page itself to see the central 'nuclear' ring). Researchers think that gravitational asymmetries driven by the mass of the central bar gives the galaxy its shell-like [my term] appearance and corresponding star formation. What do you think?
NGC 1512 is a barred spiral galaxy approximately 38 million light-years away from Earth in the southern constellation Horologium (The Clock). It was discovered by Scottish astronomer James Dunlop on October 29, 1826, and is visible from below 23°N (e.g. the southern tip of the island Niihau or the Baja California peninsula).
When applied to a galaxy, the term 'secular evolution' means slow, steady evolution due to long-term interactions between the galaxy and its environment (such as gas accretion or galaxy harassment), or internal processes such as the actions of spiral arms or bars. In the case of NGC 1512, this imagery suggests (to me, anyway) evidence of internal secular evolution driven the the central bar. There are three distinct rings here (zoom in on the APOD page itself to see the central 'nuclear' ring). Researchers think that gravitational asymmetries driven by the mass of the central bar gives the galaxy its shell-like [my term] appearance and corresponding star formation. What do you think?
NGC 1512 is a barred spiral galaxy approximately 38 million light-years away from Earth in the southern constellation Horologium (The Clock). It was discovered by Scottish astronomer James Dunlop on October 29, 1826, and is visible from below 23°N (e.g. the southern tip of the island Niihau or the Baja California peninsula).
APOD: 2026 February 4 – Spiral Galaxy NGC 1512: Wide Field
Posted from apod.nasa.gov
Space
Science
Photography
Astronomy
Posted 7 d ago
Responses: 4
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Major, I am going to go with what you think...because my understanding of cosmic evolution doesn't reach beyond: "Oh man, so pretty."
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I wonder in 20-30 years how far we exceed expectations. After all, AI, Hubble etc. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price SGT Kevin Hughes PO3 Phyllis Maynard Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
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SGT Kevin Hughes
You know Larry, every time I use my iPhone, it strikes me as "Star Trek" level stuff. The doggone thing can read my vital signs using the camera and flashlight with an app. And tell me my blood oxygen level. Or, I can look up Einstein's Field Equations with explanations...by just tapping a screen. So yeah, what will we be like in 30 years? if we are still here...and free.
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PO3 Phyllis Maynard
SGT Kevin Hughes I do wonder if Earth will exist as we know it. If we are not free, I wonder who will own our "freedom".
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