Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 September 21 Cosmos in Reflection Image Credit &Copyright:Jeff Dai(TWAN) Explanation: During the day,over 12,000 large mirrors reflectsunlight at the 100-megawatt, molten-salt, solar thermal power plant at thewestern edge of the Gobi desert nearDunhuang, Gansu Province, China.Individual mirror panels turn to track the sun like sunflowers.They conspire to act as a single super mirror reflectingthe sunlight toward a fixed position,the power station's central tower.During the nightthe mirrors stand motionless though.They reflect the light of the countless distant stars,clusters and nebulae of the Milky Wayand beyond.Thissci-finight skyscape was created with a camera fixedto a tripod near the edge of the giant mirror matrix onSeptember 15.The camera's combined sequence of digital exposures capturesconcentric arcs of celestialstar trails through the nightwith star trails insurreal mirrored reflection. Tomorrow's picture: analog analemma's afternoon<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Phillip NewmanSpecific rights apply.NASA WebPrivacy Policy and Important NoticesA service of:ASD atNASA /GSFC,NASA ScienceActivation& Michigan Tech. U.
Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 September 21 Tagging Bennu Image Credit: OSIRIS-REx, University of Arizona,NASA, Goddard Scientific VisualizationStudio Explanation: The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft's arm reached out and touched asteroid 101955 Bennuon October 20, 2020,after a careful approach tothe small, near-Earth asteroid's boulder-strewn surface.Dubbed aTouch-And-Go(TAG) sampling event, the 30 centimeter widesampling head (TAGSAM) appears to crush some of the rocks in thisclose-up recorded by the spacecraft's SamCam.The image was snapped just after surface contactsome 321 million kilometers from planet Earth.One second later, the spacecraft fired nitrogen gasfrom a bottle intended to blow a substantial amount ofBennu's regolithinto the sampling head, collecting theloose surface material.And now, nearly three years later, on Sunday, September 24,that sample of asteroid Bennu is scheduled toarrive on planet Earth.The sample return capsule will be dropped off by the OSIRIS-Rexspacecraft as it makes a close flyby of Earth.Twenty minutes after the drop-off, the spacecraft will fire itsthrusters to divert past Earth and continue on to orbit near-Earthasteroid 99942 Apophis. Tomorrow's picture: reflections of the cosmos<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD|...
Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 September 16 Fireball over Iceland Image Credit & Copyright: Jennifer Franklin Explanation: On September 12, from a location just south of the Arctic Circle,stones of Iceland'smodern Arctic Hengepoint skyward in this startling scene.Entertaining an intrepid group of aurora hunters during ageomagnetic storm,alluring northern lights dance across the darkened skywhen a stunningfireball meteorexplodes.Awestruck, the camera-equipped skygazerscaptured video and stillimagesof the boreal bolide, at its peak about as bright as a full moon.Though quickly fading from view, the fireball left a lingeringvisible trailor persistent train.The wraith-like trail was seen forminutes wafting in the upper atmosphere at altitudesof 60 to 90 kilometers along with theauroral glow. Tomorrow's picture: Magnified Moon Mountains<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Phillip NewmanSpecific rights apply.NASA WebPrivacy Policy and Important NoticesA service of:ASD atNASA /GSFC,NASA ScienceActivation& Michigan Tech. U.
APOD: 2023 September 15 - Venus, Moon, and the Smoking Mountain Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 September 15 Venus, Moon, and the Smoking Mountain Image Credit & Copyright: Luis Miguel Meade Rodríguez Explanation: Venus has returned,now appearing in planet Earth's predawn skiesas a brilliant morning star.From a window seat on a flight to Mexico City,the bright celestial beacon was captured just before sunrise inthis astronomical snapshot, taken on September 12.Venus, at the upper right, shared the early twilightwith an old crescent Moon.Seen from this stratospheric perspective, mountain peaks andclouds appear in silhouette along a glowing eastern horizon.The dramatic, long, low cloud bank was created by ongoing ventingfrom planet Earth's active volcanoPopocatépetl. Tomorrow's picture: Fire over Ice<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Phillip NewmanSpecific rights apply.NASA WebPrivacy Policy and Important NoticesA service of:ASD atNASA /GSFC,NASA ScienceActivation& Michigan Tech. U.
APOD: 2023 September 14 - NGC 7331 and Beyond Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 September 14 NGC 7331 and Beyond Image Credit &Copyright: Ian Gorenstein Explanation: Big, beautiful spiral galaxyNGC 7331is often touted as an analog to our ownMilky Way.About 50 million light-years distant in the northern constellationPegasus,NGC 7331 was recognized early on asa spiral nebula and is actually one of the brightergalaxiesnot included in Charles Messier'sfamous18th century catalog.Since the galaxy's diskis inclined to our line-of-sight, longtelescopic exposures often result in images that evokes a strongsense of depth.The effect is further enhancedin this sharp imageby galaxies that lie beyond the gorgeousisland universe.The most prominent background galaxies are about one tenth theapparent sizeof NGC 7331 and so lie roughly ten times farther away.Their close alignment on the sky with NGC 7331occurs just by chance.Lingering abovethe plane of the Milky Way, this striking visual grouping of galaxies isknown to some as theDeer Lick Group. Tomorrow's picture: good morning moon<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Phillip NewmanSpecific rights...
Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 September 15 Venus, Moon, and the Smoking Mountain Image Credit & Copyright: Luis Miguel Meade Rodríguez Explanation: Venus has returned as a brilliant morning star.From a window seat on a flight to Mexico City,the bright celestial beacon was captured just before sunrise inthis astronomical snapshot, taken on September 12.Venus, at the upper right, shared the early predawn skieswith an old crescent Moon.Seen from this stratospheric perspective, both mountain peaks andclouds appear in silhouette along a glowing eastern horizon.The dramatic, long, low cloud bank was created by ventingfrom planet Earth's active volcanoPopocatépetl. Tomorrow's picture: Fire over Ice<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Phillip NewmanSpecific rights apply.NASA WebPrivacy Policy and Important NoticesA service of:ASD atNASA /GSFC,NASA ScienceActivation& Michigan Tech. U.
Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 September 14 NGC 7331 and Beyond Image Credit &Copyright: Ian Gorenstein Explanation: Big, beautiful spiral galaxyNGC 7331is often touted as an analog to our ownMilky Way.About 50 million light-years distant in the northern constellationPegasus,NGC 7331 was recognized early on asa spiral nebula and is actually one of the brightergalaxiesnot included in Charles Messier'sfamous18th century catalog.Since the galaxy's diskis inclined to our line-of-sight, longtelescopic exposures often result in images that evokes a strongsense of depth.The effect is further enhancedin this sharp imageby galaxies that lie beyond the gorgeousisland universe.The most prominent background galaxies are about one tenth theapparent sizeof NGC 7331 and so lie roughly ten times farther away.Their close alignment on the sky with NGC 7331occurs just by chance.Lingering abovethe plane of the Milky Way, this striking visual grouping of galaxies isknown to some as theDeer Lick Group. Tomorrow's picture: good morning moon<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Phillip NewmanSpecific rights apply.NASA WebPrivacy Policy and...
Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 September 12 Galaxy Cluster Abell 370 and Beyond Image Credit: NASA,ESA,Jennifer Lotz and theHFF Team(STScI) Explanation: Some 4 billion light-years away, massive galaxy cluster Abell 370is captured in this sharpHubble Space Telescope snapshot.The cluster of galaxies onlyappears to be dominated by two giant elliptical galaxiesand infested with faint arcs.In reality, the fainter, scattered bluish arcs, along with thedramatic dragon arcbelow and left of center, are images of galaxies that liefar beyond Abell 370.About twice as distant, their otherwise undetected light ismagnified and distorted by the cluster's enormous gravitational mass,overwhelmingly dominated by unseendark matter.Providing atantalizing glimpseof galaxies in the early universe, the effect is known as gravitationallensing.A consequence of warpedspacetime, lensing waspredicted by Einstein almost a century ago.Far beyondthe spiky foreground Milky Way star at lower right,Abell 370 is seen toward the constellation Cetus, the Sea Monster.It was the last of six galaxy clusters imaged in theFrontier Fields project. Tomorrow's picture: partly hidden<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell...
APOD: 2023 September 7 - The Large Cloud of Magellan Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 September 7 The Large Cloud of Magellan Image Credit &Copyright: Chris Willocks/ Telescope.Live Explanation: The 16th century Portuguese navigatorFerdinand Magellan and his crew had plenty of time to study the southern sky during thefirst circumnavigation of planet Earth.As a result, two fuzzy cloud-likeobjects easily visible to southern hemisphere skygazers are known as theClouds of Magellan, now understood to besatellite galaxies of our much larger, spiral Milky Way galaxy.About 160,000 light-years distant in the constellationDorado, theLarge Magellanic Cloudis seen in thissharp galaxy portrait.Spanning about 15,000 light-years or so, it isthe most massive of the Milky Way'ssatellite galaxiesand is the home of the closest supernova in modern times, SN 1987A. The prominent patch above center is 30 Doradus,also known as the magnificentTarantula Nebula, a giant star-forming region about 1,000 light-years across. Tomorrow's picture: large star factory<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Phillip NewmanSpecific rights apply.NASA WebPrivacy Policy and Important NoticesA service of:ASD...
Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 September 8 Star Factory Messier 17 Image Credit &Copyright: Kim Quick,Terry Hancock,andTom Masterson(Grand Mesa Observatory) Explanation: Sculpted by stellar winds and radiation,the star factory known asMessier 17lies some 5,500 light-years away in the nebula-rich constellationSagittarius.At that distance, this 1/3 degree wide field of view spans over30 light-years.The sharp composite, color imagehighlights faint details of the region's gas anddust clouds against a backdrop of centralMilky Way stars.Stellar winds and energetic lightfrom hot, massive stars formed from M17's stock of cosmic gas and dust have slowly carved away at the remaining interstellar material,producing the cavernous appearance andundulating shapes.M17 is alsoknown as the Omega Nebula or the Swan Nebula. Tomorrow's picture: large galaxy cloud<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Phillip NewmanSpecific rights apply.NASA WebPrivacy Policy and Important NoticesA service of:ASD atNASA /GSFC,NASA ScienceActivation& Michigan Tech. U.
Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 September 7 The Large Cloud of Magellan Image Credit &Copyright: Chris Willocks Explanation: The 16th century Portuguese navigatorFerdinand Magellan and his crew had plenty of time to study the southern sky during thefirst circumnavigation of planet Earth.As a result, two fuzzy cloud-likeobjects easily visible to southern hemisphere skygazers are known as theClouds of Magellan, now understood to besatellite galaxies of our much larger, spiral Milky Way galaxy.About 160,000 light-years distant in the constellationDorado, theLarge Magellanic Cloudis seen in thissharp galaxy portrait.Spanning about 15,000 light-years or so, it isthe most massive of the Milky Way'ssatellite galaxiesand is the home of the closest supernova in modern times, SN 1987A. The prominent patch above center is 30 Doradus,also known as the magnificentTarantula Nebula, a giant star-forming region about 1,000 light-years across. Tomorrow's picture: large star factory<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Phillip NewmanSpecific rights apply.NASA WebPrivacy Policy and Important NoticesA service of:ASD atNASA /GSFC,NASA ScienceActivation& Michigan Tech. U.
Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 September 2 NGC 7023: The Iris Nebula Image Credit &Copyright: Lorand Fenyes Explanation: These cosmic clouds have blossomed 1,300 light-years awayin the fertile starfields of theconstellation Cepheus.Called the Iris Nebula,NGC 7023is not the only nebulato evoke the imagery of flowers.Still, thisdeep telescopic imageshows off the Iris Nebula's range ofcolors and symmetries embedded in surroundingfields of interstellar dust.Within the Iris itself, dusty nebular material surrounds a hot,young star.The dominant color of the brighter reflection nebula is blue,characteristic of dust grains reflecting starlight.Centralfilamentsof the reflection nebula glow with a faint reddishphotoluminescence as some dust grainseffectively convertthe star's invisibleultraviolet radiation to visible red light.Infraredobservationsindicate that this nebula containscomplex carbon molecules known asPAHs.The dusty blue petals of the Iris Nebula span about six light-years. Tomorrow's picture: a cosmic souffle<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Phillip NewmanSpecific rights apply.NASA WebPrivacy Policy and Important NoticesA service of:ASD atNASA /GSFC,NASA ScienceActivation& Michigan Tech. U.
APOD: 2023 September 1 - The Great Globular Cluster in Hercules Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 September 1 The Great Globular Cluster in Hercules Image Credit &Copyright: Serge Brunier, Jean-François Bax, David VernetOCA/C2PU Explanation: In 1716,English astronomerEdmond Halleynoted, "This is but a little Patch, but it shows itself to the naked Eye, whenthe Sky is serene and the Moon absent."Of course, M13is now less modestly recognized as the Great Globular Cluster inHercules, one of the brightestglobularstar clusters in the northern sky.Sharp telescopic views likethis onereveal the spectacular cluster'shundreds of thousands of stars.At a distance of 25,000 light-years, thecluster stars crowdinto a region 150 light-years in diameter.Approaching the cluster core, upwards of 100 stars could be containedin a cube just 3 light-years on a side.For comparison, theclosest star to the Sun is over4 light-years away.The remarkable range of brightnessrecorded in this image follows stars into the dense cluster core. Tomorrow's picture: wisdom in a flower<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Phillip NewmanSpecific rights apply.NASA WebPrivacy Policy...
APOD: 2023 August 31 - The Crew 7 Nebula Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 August 31 The Crew-7 Nebula Image Credit &Copyright: Michael Seeley Explanation: Not theJames Webb Space Telescope'slatest view of a distant galactic nebula,this illuminated cloud of gas and dust dazzledearly morning spacecoast skygazers on August 26.The snapshot was taken about 2 minutes after the launch ofa Falcon 9 rocket onthe SpaceX Crew-7 mission,the seventh commercial crew rotation mission for the InternationalSpace Station.It captures drifting plumes and exhaust from the separatedfirst and second stage illuminated against the still dark skies.Near the center of the image, within the ragged blueish ring,are two bright points of light.The lower one is the second stage of the rocketcarrying 4 humans to space in a Crew Dragon spacecraft.The bright point above is the Falcon 9first stage boosterorienting itself for the trip backto Landing Zone-1at Cape Canaveral, planet Earth. Tomorrow's picture: a great little patch<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Phillip NewmanSpecific rights apply.NASA WebPrivacy Policy and Important NoticesA...
Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2023 September 1 The Great Globular Cluster in Hercules Image Credit &Copyright: Serge Brunier, Jean-François Bax, David VernetOCA/C2PU Explanation: In 1716,English astronomerEdmond Halleynoted, "This is but a little Patch, but it shows itself to the naked Eye, whenthe Sky is serene and the Moon absent."Of course, M13is now less modestly recognized as the Great Globular Cluster inHercules, one of the brightestglobularstar clusters in the northern sky.Sharp telescopic views likethis onereveal the spectacular cluster'shundreds of thousands of stars.At a distance of 25,000 light-years, thecluster stars crowdinto a region 150 light-years in diameter.Approaching the cluster core, upwards of 100 stars could be containedin a cube just 3 light-years on a side.For comparison, theclosest star to the Sun is over4 light-years away.The remarkable range of brightnessrecorded in this image follows stars into the dense cluster core. Tomorrow's picture: wisdom in a flower<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Phillip NewmanSpecific rights apply.NASA WebPrivacy Policy and Important NoticesA service of:ASD atNASA...