{"id":559494,"date":"2026-10-01T07:19:33","date_gmt":"2026-09-30T21:19:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/get-involved\/citizen-science\/help-overlap-zoo-reveal-cosmic-dust\/"},"modified":"2026-10-01T07:19:33","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T21:19:33","slug":"help-overlap-zoo-reveal-cosmic-dust","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=559494","title":{"rendered":"Help Overlap Zoo Reveal Cosmic Dust"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-secondary-navigation\">\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-wrapper z-top width-100 padding-0\">\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-secondary-navigation width-full border-bottom-1px text-center hds-color-mode-light hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-hdsnav\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"hds-secondary-nav-mobile-button display-flex tablet:display-flex desktop:display-none width-full flex-align-center bg-carbon-90 border-color-carbon-80 color-spacesuit-white\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"hds-secondary-nav-track\"><span>Explore This Section<\/span><svg width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 400 400\" viewBox=\"0 0 400 400\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m4.2 122.2 195.1 195.1 196.5-196.6-37.9-38-157.8 157.8-156.8-156.8z\" \/><\/svg><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-nav-track grid-container grid-container-extrawide padding-0 tablet:padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-2 hds-secondary-navigation-has-breadcrumbs\">\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-breadcrumbs display-none tablet:display-none desktop:display-flex flex-align-center\">\n<nav class=\"usa-breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol class=\"usa-breadcrumb__list\">\n<li class=\"usa-breadcrumb__list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/\" class=\"usa-breadcrumb__link\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>Science<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-breadcrumb__list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/citizen-science\/\" class=\"usa-breadcrumb__link\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>Citizen Science<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-breadcrumb__list-item usa-current\" aria-current=\"page\"><span>Help Overlap Zoo Reveal Cosmic\u2026<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-menu-items\">\n<nav>\n<ul class=\"usa-nav__primary usa-accordion flex-justify-center margin-0\">\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/learn\" rel=\"noopener\">Overview<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/learn\/resources\" rel=\"noopener\">Resources<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/learn\/learner-opportunities\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Opportunities<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/citizen-science\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Citizen Science<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/learn\/science-activation-highlights\" rel=\"noopener\">Highlights<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/learn\/about-science-activation\/\" rel=\"noopener\">About Science Activation<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-menu-spacer\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Galaxies, vast collections of billions of stars, gas, and dust held together by gravity, are scattered across the immensity of space. But every so often, a coincidence occurs: Two galaxies line up from our point of view on Earth (or from a space telescope) and appear to overlap in the sky. These rare overlapping galaxies give astronomers a chance to study something normally difficult to see: the dust inside one of these distant cosmic objects. That\u2019s the focus of NASA\u2019s new <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/citizen-science\/overlap-zoo\/?utm_medium=launch-highlight&#038;utm_source=link-to-summary-page&#038;%23038;utm_campaign=overlap-zoo\" rel=\"noopener\">Overlap Zoo<\/a> project.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Picture the background galaxy acting like a cosmic flashlight, shining through the nearer galaxy. The backlit dust creates dark silhouettes, like shadows on a screen. By studying these silhouettes, astronomers can map how dust is distributed throughout galaxies and learn how it blocks, scatters, and dims starlight traveling through space. Measurements of how dust impacts light can even help astronomers refine estimates of the distances to faraway objects.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, before we can study galaxy pairs and their dust, we first need to find them! Overlap Zoo is asking for your help with the search.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAs new and better observations of galaxies continue to multiply, it is becoming incredibly difficult for astronomers to classify every candidate galaxy pair,\u201d said Trevor Butrum, Overlap Zoo project lead and graduate student. \u201cYour help is invaluable to creating the biggest and cleanest catalog of overlapping galaxy pairs for further analysis.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a volunteer in Overlap Zoo, you\u2019ll view images that volunteers in the <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/citizen-science\/galaxy-zoo\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Galaxy Zoo<\/a> project have identified as containing possible overlapping galaxies. The Overlap Zoo project will teach you how to verify the presence of galaxy pairs in these images, classify key features of each galaxy, and mark their outlines. You\u2019ll learn as you go, classifying as many of these images as you like. Your contributions will help build the first large-scale catalog of galaxy pairs suitable for dust studies and enable a huge step forward in accuracy of astronomical estimates.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Head over to <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/citizen-science\/overlap-zoo\/?utm_medium=launch-highlight&#038;utm_source=link-to-summary-page&#038;%23038;utm_campaign=overlap-zoo\" rel=\"noopener\">Overlap Zoo<\/a> and start classifying galaxies today. No prior experience needed \u2013 just curiosity and a few minutes of your time. Your observations will help unlock the secrets hidden in these rare cosmic alignments!<\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/citizen-science\/highlights\/2026\/STScI-01GE08RNPH8RBMMGMC52JD3R93-Trevor_Butrum.jpg?w=1858&#038;h=1836&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" rel=\"noopener\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1858\" height=\"1836\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/citizen-science\/highlights\/2026\/STScI-01GE08RNPH8RBMMGMC52JD3R93-Trevor_Butrum.jpg?w=1858&#038;h=1836&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Two overlapping galaxies against a dark field of distant stars and galaxies. A bright, smooth galaxy at left partially overlaps a face-on spiral galaxy at right, whose winding arms are dotted with blue and pink regions.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"eager\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/citizen-science\/highlights\/2026\/STScI-01GE08RNPH8RBMMGMC52JD3R93-Trevor_Butrum.jpg?w=1858&#038;h=1836&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1858w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/citizen-science\/highlights\/2026\/STScI-01GE08RNPH8RBMMGMC52JD3R93-Trevor_Butrum.jpg?w=300&#038;h=296&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/citizen-science\/highlights\/2026\/STScI-01GE08RNPH8RBMMGMC52JD3R93-Trevor_Butrum.jpg?w=768&#038;h=759&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/citizen-science\/highlights\/2026\/STScI-01GE08RNPH8RBMMGMC52JD3R93-Trevor_Butrum.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=1012&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/citizen-science\/highlights\/2026\/STScI-01GE08RNPH8RBMMGMC52JD3R93-Trevor_Butrum.jpg?w=1536&#038;h=1518&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/citizen-science\/highlights\/2026\/STScI-01GE08RNPH8RBMMGMC52JD3R93-Trevor_Butrum.jpg?w=50&#038;h=49&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 50w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/citizen-science\/highlights\/2026\/STScI-01GE08RNPH8RBMMGMC52JD3R93-Trevor_Butrum.jpg?w=100&#038;h=99&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 100w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/citizen-science\/highlights\/2026\/STScI-01GE08RNPH8RBMMGMC52JD3R93-Trevor_Butrum.jpg?w=400&#038;h=395&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/citizen-science\/highlights\/2026\/STScI-01GE08RNPH8RBMMGMC52JD3R93-Trevor_Butrum.jpg?w=600&#038;h=593&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/citizen-science\/highlights\/2026\/STScI-01GE08RNPH8RBMMGMC52JD3R93-Trevor_Butrum.jpg?w=900&#038;h=889&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/citizen-science\/highlights\/2026\/STScI-01GE08RNPH8RBMMGMC52JD3R93-Trevor_Butrum.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=1186&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1858px) 100vw, 1858px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">A prime example of an overlapping galaxy pair known as VV191a\/b.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">Image credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, JWST PEARLS Team, Rogier Windhorst (ASU), William Keel (University of Alabama), Stuart Wyithe (University of Melbourne); Image Processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI)<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-featured-link-list bg-spacesuit-white padding-x-2 tablet:padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-4 padding-y-5 desktop:padding-y-6 hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-featured-link-list\">\n<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block padding-0\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-22\">\n\t\t\t\tLearn More and Get Involved\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row padding-y-2 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-30-important\">\n<div class=\"grid-row featured-link-list-row width-full flex-align-center\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 tablet:padding-right-3 desktop:padding-right-5\">\n<div class=\"width-full\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper width-full ratio-1x1 radius-pill overflow-hidden\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"509\" height=\"509\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/citizen-science\/projects\/2026\/Overlap_Zoo_logo.jpeg?w=509&#038;h=509&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Overlap Zoo\u2019s stylized, round logo. A white spiral galaxy stands out against a blue background with two stars. One spiral arm is overlapping the smooth side of a white elliptical galaxy in the the lower right. The whole is encircled by a white border and a thick black circle.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 51% 50%; object-position: 51% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/citizen-science\/projects\/2026\/Overlap_Zoo_logo.jpeg?w=509&#038;h=509&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 509w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/citizen-science\/projects\/2026\/Overlap_Zoo_logo.jpeg?w=150&#038;h=150&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 150w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/citizen-science\/projects\/2026\/Overlap_Zoo_logo.jpeg?w=300&#038;h=300&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/citizen-science\/projects\/2026\/Overlap_Zoo_logo.jpeg?w=50&#038;h=50&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 50w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/citizen-science\/projects\/2026\/Overlap_Zoo_logo.jpeg?w=100&#038;h=100&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 100w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/citizen-science\/projects\/2026\/Overlap_Zoo_logo.jpeg?w=200&#038;h=200&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/citizen-science\/projects\/2026\/Overlap_Zoo_logo.jpeg?w=400&#038;h=400&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 509px) 100vw, 509px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-8 desktop:grid-col-10 padding-left-3 desktop:padding-left-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-36 margin-0\">Overlap Zoo<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n<p class=\"p-md margin-0 color-carbon-black\">Confirm and describe overlapping galaxy pairs to reveal interstellar dust. For anyone with an internet-connected computer.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 display-flex flex-justify-end\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/citizen-science\/overlap-zoo\/\"  aria-label=\"Overlap Zoo\" class=\"link-external-false\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n                            <svg class=\"hds-featured-link-list-button margin-left-auto margin-right-0\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\">\n                                <circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path>\n                            <\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-social-media hds-social-media--horizontal grid-container grid-container-block nasa-gb-align- margin-y-0 padding-y-5 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But every so often, a coincidence occurs: Two galaxies line up from our point of view on Earth (or from a space telescope) and appear to overlap in the sky. These rare overlapping galaxies [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-559494","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO Pro 5.0.2 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Galaxies, vast collections of billions of stars, gas, and dust held together by gravity, are scattered across the immensity of space. But every so often, a coincidence occurs: Two galaxies line up from our point of view on Earth (or from a space telescope) and appear to overlap in the sky. 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