APOD: 2024 August 30 - Southern Moonscape 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. 2024 August 30 Southern Moonscape Image Credit &Copyright: Lorand Fenyes Explanation: The Moon's south poleis toward the top left of thisdetailedtelescopic moonscape.Captured on August 23, itlooks across the rugged southern lunar highlands.The view's foreshortened perspective heightens the impression of adense field of craters and makes the craters themselves appearmore oval shaped close to the lunar limb.Prominentnear center is114 kilometer diameter crater Moretus.Moretus is young for a large lunar crater and features terraced inner walls and a 2.1 kilometerhigh, central peak, similar in appearance to the more northerlyyoung crater Tycho.Mountains visible along the lunar limb at the top can rise about6 kilometers or so above the surrounding terrain.Close to the lunar south pole,permanently shadowed crater floorswith expected reservoirs of water-icehave made the rugged south polar region of the Moon apopular target for exploration. Tomorrow's picture: light-weekend <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Amber StraughnSpecific rights apply.NASA Web Privacy,Accessibility NoticesA service of:ASD atNASA /GSFC,NASA Science Activation&...
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. 2024 August 31 IFN and the NGC 7771 Group Image Credit &Copyright: Steve MandelandBob Fera Explanation: Galaxies of the NGC 7771 Group are featured inthis intriguing skyscape.Some 200 million light-years distant toward the constellationPegasus,NGC 7771 is the large, edge-onspiral near center,about 75,000 light-years across, with two smaller galaxies below it.Large spiral NGC 7769 is seen face-on to the right.Galaxies of the NGC 7771 group are interacting, makingrepeated close passages that will ultimately resultin galaxy-galaxy mergers on a cosmic timescale.The interactions can be traced bydistortionsin the shape of the galaxies themselvesand faint streams of starscreated by their mutual gravitational tides.But a clear view of this galaxy group is difficult to come by asthe deep image also reveals extensive clouds offoreground dust sweeping across the fieldof view.The dim, dusty galactic cirrus clouds are known as Integrated Flux Nebulae.The faint IFN reflect starlight from our own Milky Way Galaxyand lie only a few hundred light-years above thegalactic plane. Tomorrow's picture: moon dressing <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| >...
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. 2024 August 30 Southern Moonscape Image Credit &Copyright: Lorand Fenyes Explanation: The Moon's south poleis toward the top left of thisdetailedtelescopic moonscape.Captured on August 23, itlooks across the rugged southern lunar highlands.The view's foreshortened perspective heightens the impression of adense field of craters and makes the craters themselves appearmore oval shaped close to the lunar limb.Prominentnear center is114 kilometer diameter crater Moretus.Moretus is young for a large lunar crater and features terraced inner walls and a 2.1 kilometerhigh, central peak, similar in appearance to the more northerlyyoung crater Tycho.Mountains visible along the lunar limb at the top can rise about6 kilometers or so above the surrounding terrain.Close to the lunar south pole,permanently shadowed crater floorswith expected reservoirs of water-icehave made the rugged south polar region of the Moon apopular target for exploration. Tomorrow's picture: light-weekend <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Amber StraughnSpecific rights apply.NASA Web Privacy,Accessibility NoticesA service of:ASD atNASA /GSFC,NASA Science Activation& Michigan Tech....
APOD: 2024 August 29 - Star Factory Messier 17 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. 2024 August 29 Star Factory Messier 17 Image Credit &Copyright: Gaetan Maxant Explanation: A nearby star factory known asMessier 17lies some 5,500 light-years away in the nebula-rich constellationSagittarius.At that distance, this 1.5 degree widefield-of-view would span about 150 light-years.Inthe sharp color composite imagefaint details of the region's gas and dust cloudsare highlighted with narrowband image data against a backdrop ofcentral Milky Way stars.The stellar winds and energetic radiation from hot, massive stars alreadyformed from M17's stock of cosmic gas and dusthave slowly carved away at the remaining interstellar material,producing the nebula's cavernous appearance and theundulating shapes within.A popular stop on telescopic tours of the cosmos,M17 is also knownas the Omega or the Swan Nebula. Tomorrow's picture: southern moonscape <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Amber StraughnSpecific rights apply.NASA Web Privacy,Accessibility NoticesA service of:ASD atNASA /GSFC,NASA Science Activation& 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. 2024 August 29 Star Factory Messier 17 Image Credit &Copyright: Gaetan Maxant Explanation: A nearby star factory known asMessier 17lies some 5,500 light-years away in the nebula-rich constellationSagittarius.At that distance, this 1.5 degree widefield-of-view would span about 150 light-years.Inthe sharp color composite imagefaint details of the region's gas and dust cloudsare highlighted with narrowband image data against a backdrop ofcentral Milky Way stars.The stellar winds and energetic radiation from hot, massive stars alreadyformed from M17's stock of cosmic gas and dusthave slowly carved away at the remaining interstellar material,producing the nebula's cavernous appearance and theundulating shapes within.A popular stop on telescopic tours of the cosmos,M17 is also knownas the Omega or the Swan Nebula. Tomorrow's picture: southern moonscape <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Amber StraughnSpecific rights apply.NASA Web Privacy,Accessibility NoticesA service of:ASD atNASA /GSFC,NASA Science Activation& Michigan Tech. U.
APOD: 2024 August 23 - Supernova Remnant CTA 1 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. 2024 August 23 Supernova Remnant CTA 1 Image Credit &Copyright: Thomas Lelu Explanation: There is aquiet pulsarat the heart of CTA 1.The supernova remnant wasdiscovered as asource of emissionat radio wavelengthsby astronomers in 1960and since identified as the result of thedeath explosion of a massive star.But no radio pulses were detected from the expected pulsar, therotating neutron starremnant of the massive star's collapsed core.Seen about 10,000 years after the initial supernova explosion,the interstellar debris cloud is faint at optical wavelengths.CTA 1's visible wavelengthemission from still expanding shock fronts is revealed inthis deep telescopic image,a frame that spans about 2 degrees across astarfield in the northern constellation of Cepheus.While no pulsar has since been found at radio wavelengths,in 2008 theFermi Gamma-ray Space Telescopedetected pulsed emission from CTA 1,identifying the supernova remnant'srotating neutron star.The source has been recognized as the firstin a growing class of pulsars that are quiet at radio wavelengths butpulse in high-energy gamma-rays. Tomorrow's picture: gone to Fiji <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education|...
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. 2024 August 24 South Pacific Shadowset Image Credit &Copyright: Jin Wang Explanation: Thefull MoonandEarth's shadowset together in this island skyscape.The alluring scene was captured Tuesday morning, August 20, fromFiji, South Pacific Ocean, planet Earth.For early morning risers shadowset in the western sky is adaily apparition.Still, the grey-blue shadowis often overlooked infavor of a brighter eastern horizon.Extending through the dense atmosphere,Earth's setting shadow is bounded above by a pinkish glow oranti-twilight arch.Known as the Belt of Venus, the arch's lovely color is due tobackscattering of reddened lightfrom the opposite horizon's rising Sun.Of course, the setting Moon's light isreddened by the long sight-line through the atmosphere.But on that date the full Moon could be called a seasonal Blue Moon,the third full Moon in a season with four full Moons.And even though thefull Moon is always impressivenear the horizon, August's full Moon is considered by somethe first of four consecutive full Supermoons in 2024. Tomorrow's picture: fresh tiger stripes <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors:...
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. 2024 August 23 Supernova Remnant CTA 1 Image Credit &Copyright: Thomas Lelu Explanation: There is aquiet pulsarat the heart of CTA 1.The supernova remnant wasdiscovered as asource of emissionat radio wavelengthsby astronomers in 1960and since identified as the result of thedeath explosion of a massive star.But no radio pulses were detected from the expected pulsar, therotating neutron starremnant of the massive star's collapsed core.Seen about 10,000 years after the initial supernova explosion,the interstellar debris cloud is faint at optical wavelengths.CTA 1's visible wavelengthemission from still expanding shock fronts is revealed inthis deep telescopic image,a frame that spans about 2 degrees across astarfield in the northern constellation of Cepheus.While no pulsar has since been found at radio wavelengths,in 2008 theFermi Gamma-ray Space Telescopedetected pulsed emission from CTA 1,identifying the supernova remnant'srotating neutron star.The source has been recognized as the firstin a growing class of pulsars that are quiet at radio wavelengths butpulse in high-energy gamma-rays. Tomorrow's picture: light-weekend <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors &...
APOD: 2024 August 22 - The Dark Tower in Scorpius 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. 2024 August 22 The Dark Tower in Scorpius Image Credit &Copyright: Mike Selby Explanation: In silhouette against a crowded star fieldalong the tail of the arachnological constellationScorpius,this dusty cosmic cloud evokes for some the image of anominousdark tower.In fact, monstrous clumps of dust and molecular gascollapsingto form stars may well lurk within the dark nebula,a structure that spans almost 40 light-years across thisgorgeous telescopic portrait.Acometary globule, the swept-back cloudis shaped by intense ultraviolet radiation from theOB associationof veryhot stars in NGC 6231,off the upper right corner of the scene.That energetic ultraviolet light also powers the globule's borderingreddish glow of hydrogen gas.Hot stars embedded in the dust can be seen as bluishreflection nebulae.This dark tower andassociated nebulae are about 5,000 light-years away. Growing Gallery: Moon Eclipses Saturn in August 2024 Tomorrow's picture: a dark pulsar <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Amber StraughnSpecific rights apply.NASA Web Privacy,Accessibility NoticesA service of:ASD atNASA /GSFC,NASA...
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. 2024 August 22 The Dark Tower in Scorpius Image Credit &Copyright: Mike Selby Explanation: In silhouette against a crowded star fieldalong the tail of the arachnological constellationScorpius,this dusty cosmic cloud evokes for some the image of anominousdark tower.In fact, monstrous clumps of dust and molecular gascollapsingto form stars may well lurk within the dark nebula,a structure that spans almost 40 light-years across thisgorgeous telescopic portrait.Acometary globule, the swept-back cloudis shaped by intense ultraviolet radiation from theOB associationof veryhot stars in NGC 6231,off the upper right corner of the scene.That energetic ultraviolet light also powers the globule's borderingreddish glow of hydrogen gas.Hot stars embedded in the dust can be seen as bluishreflection nebulae.This dark tower andassociated nebulae are about 5,000 light-years away. Growing Gallery: Moon Eclipses Saturn in August 2024 Tomorrow's picture: a dark pulsar <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Amber StraughnSpecific rights apply.NASA Web Privacy,Accessibility NoticesA service of:ASD atNASA /GSFC,NASA Science Activation& Michigan Tech. U.
APOD: 2024 August 16 - Meteor Borealis 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. 2024 August 16 Meteor Borealis Image Credit &Copyright: Jason Dain Explanation: A single exposure made with a camera pointed almost due northon August 12 recorded this bright Perseid meteor inthe night sky west of Halifax,Nova Scotia, Canada.The meteor's incandescenttrace is fleeting.It appears to cross the stars of theBig Dipper,famous northern asterism and celestial kitchen utensil,while shimmering curtains of aurora borealis,also known as the northern lights,dance in the night.Doubling the wow factor for night skywatchersnear the peak of this year'sPerseid meteor showerauroral activity on planet Earth was enhanced bygeomagnetic storms.The intense space weather wastriggered by flares from anactive Sun. Gallery: Perseid Meteor Shower 2024 and Aurorae Tomorrow's picture: launch from a rotating planet <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Amber StraughnSpecific rights apply.NASA Web Privacy,Accessibility NoticesA service of:ASD atNASA /GSFC,NASA Science Activation& 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. 2024 August 17 Sky Full of Arcs Image Credit &Copyright: Rory Gannaway Explanation: On August 11 aRocket Lab Electron rocket launchedfrom a rotating planet.With a small satellite on board itsmission was dubbedA Sky Full of SARs(Synthetic Aperture Radar satellites),departing for low Earth orbitfrom Mahia Peninsula on New Zealand's north island.The fiery trace of the Electron's graceful launch arc istoward the east in this southern sea and skyscape,a composite of 50 consecutive frames taken over 2.5 hours.Fixed to a tripod, the camera was pointing directly at theSouth Celestial Pole, the extension of planet Earth's axis of rotationin to space.But no bright starmarks that location in the southern hemisphere's night sky.Still, the SouthCelestialPole is easy to spot.It lies at the center of theconcentric star trail arcs that fill the skyward field of view. Gallery: Perseid Meteor Shower 2024 and Aurorae Tomorrow's picture: sunny day <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Amber StraughnSpecific rights apply.NASA Web Privacy,Accessibility NoticesA service...
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. 2024 August 16 Meteor Borealis Image Credit &Copyright: Jason Dain Explanation: A single exposure made with a camera pointed almost due northon August 12 recorded this bright Perseid meteor inthe night sky west of Halifax,Nova Scotia, Canada.The meteor's incandescenttrace is fleeting.It appears to cross the stars of theBig Dipper,famous northern asterism and celestial kitchen utensil,while shimmering curtains of aurora borealis,also known as the northern lights,dance in the night.Doubling the wow factor for night skywatchersnear the peak of this year'sPerseid meteor showerauroral activity on planet Earth was enhanced bygeomagnetic storms.The intense space weather wastriggered by flares from anactive Sun. Gallery: Perseid Meteor Shower 2024 and Aurorae Tomorrow's picture: meteor borealis <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Amber StraughnSpecific rights apply.NASA Web Privacy,Accessibility NoticesA service of:ASD atNASA /GSFC,NASA Science Activation& Michigan Tech. U.
APOD: 2024 August 15 - Late Night Vallentuna 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. 2024 August 15 Late Night Vallentuna Image Credit &Copyright: P-M Hedén(Clear Skies,TWAN) Explanation: Bright Marsand even brighter Jupiterare in close conjunction just above the pine treesin this post-midnight skyscape from Vallentuna,Sweden.Taken on August 12 during a geomagnetic storm,the snapshot records the glow of aurora borealisor northern lights, beaming from the left side of the frame.Of course onthat date Perseid meteorsrained through planet Earth's skies, grains of dust from theshower's parent, periodic cometSwift-Tuttle.The meteor streak at the upper right is a Perseid plowing throughthe atmosphere at about 60 kilometers per second.Also well-known in Earth's night sky, the bright Pleiades star clustershines below the Perseid meteor streak.In Greek myth, the Pleiades wereseven daughtersof the astronomical titan Atlas and sea-nymph Pleione.The Pleiades and their parents' names are given to the cluster'snine brightest stars. Gallery: Perseid Meteor Shower 2024 and Aurorae Tomorrow's picture: meteor borealis <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Amber StraughnSpecific rights apply.NASA Web Privacy,Accessibility...
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. 2024 August 15 Late Night Vallentuna Image Credit &Copyright: P-M Hedén(Clear Skies,TWAN) Explanation: Bright Marsand even brighter Jupiterare in close conjunction just above the pine treesin this post-midnight skyscape from Vallentuna,Sweden.Taken on August 12 during a geomagnetic storm,the snapshot records the glow of aurora borealisor northern lights, beaming from the left side of the frame.Of course onthat date Perseid meteorsrained through planet Earth's skies, grains of dust from theshower's parent, periodic cometSwift-Tuttle.The meteor streak at the upper right is a Perseid plowing throughthe atmosphere at about 60 kilometers per second.Also well-known in in Earth's night sky, the bright Pleides star clustershines below the Perseid meteor streak.In Greek myth, the Pleiades wereseven daughtersof the astronomical titan Atlas and sea-nymph Pleione.The Pleiades and their parents' names are given to the cluster'snine brightest stars. Gallery: Perseid Meteor Shower 2024 and Aurorae Tomorrow's picture: meteor borealis <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Amber StraughnSpecific rights apply.NASA Web Privacy,Accessibility NoticesA service...