Starburst ring lights up the heart of a spiral galaxy

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features a dazzling spiral galaxy lighting up the constellation Cepheus. The galaxy, known as NGC 6951, is located roughly 70 million light-years away from Earth. With sweeping arms and a radiant core, this galaxy tells a vivid story about the birth of stars and the forces that shape their evolution. A closer look at a cosmic spiral NGC 6951 is a textbook spiral galaxy, but with some surprises. Its wide arms stretch out...