Galaxy Zoo on Astronomy Picture of the Day

[Alice]

Can I put both hands up, to say Rick's first, and a message later once the concept of "Galaxy Zoo" is more familiar with NASA-site visitors?

(No, I've never worked in marketing or advertising and I've never wanted to.  )

[jules]

Rick's mergers for me. Message later!

[Pat]

Rick's mergers.

[zookeeperKevin]

I've created a poll, please go there for some more "scienfitic" vote counting.

[Halibut]

I also love the mergers and I think that until we've decided exactly what message to write to APOD with galaxies, we should hold back on the special alphabet for now.

Maybe a second 'competition' for the best galactic alphabet phrase?

[zookeeperKevin]

Everybody go vote then!

[Hanny]

Vote here!

[mgp]

I'd appreciate some help finding the ID of this. It wasn't posted. ra=202.46959848 and dec=47.22, but when I enter these co-ordinates, SDSS tells me it doesn't exist. The image address is http://casjobs.sdss.org/ImgCutoutDR6/getjpeg.aspx?ra=202.46959848&dec=47.22&scale=1.5&width=700&height=700. Thanks . . .

I think what we are looking at is NGC 5194 and NGC 5195, the whirlpool galaxy and its dwarf neighbour. There is a picture
in Wikipedia which shows it mainly pink, but there are no other sources nearby, which means its almost cetainly Messier 51.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_5194
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_5195

Hi Alice, good help from Rick above.  I saved this too, using this nearby ID#588298664652701988.  It comes out a little offcenter, but at least I can find it again when I want to...

[Alice]

That's very cool, thanks mgp! 

[Half65]

If the result of the poll was for the phrase could be the url of galazy zoo. Just a proposal.

[Hanny]

If the result of the poll was for the phrase could be the url of galazy zoo. Just a proposal.

Yeah, good idea I think!

[quarkspin]

I really love this thread and I realy love Rick's montage - but what do the lookers-at APOTD want and expect ? We all understand why the mergers are so brill, will they?

Or how about a more conventional galaxy image (and what a coincidence with Alice's).  I think we should do a double and hit them with the mergers later.

Just a thought.
Q

587738067813859377

[Infinity]

I think they'll love it, if you look back through the archive you'll see a pretty eclectic mix of the weird and wonderful The story behind it is great too

[Halibut]

When does the poll close?

[BMAONE23]

Maybe we could give them the entire alphabet???