APOD: 2023 January 13 - Young Star Cluster NGC 346 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 January 13 Young Star Cluster NGC 346 Image Credit:Science -NASA,ESA,CSA,Olivia C. Jones (UK ATC), Guido De Marchi (ESTEC), Margaret Meixner (USRA)Processing - Alyssa Pagan (STScI), Nolan Habel (USRA),Laura Lenkić (USRA), Laurie E. U. Chu (NASA Ames) Explanation: The most massive young star cluster in theSmall Magellanic Cloud is NGC 346,embedded in our small satellite galaxy's largest star forming regionsome 210,000 light-years distant.Of course themassive stars of NGC 346 are short lived, but veryenergetic. Their winds and radiationsculpt the edgesof the region's dusty molecular cloud triggeringstar-formation within.The star forming region also appears tocontain a large population of infant stars.A mere 3 to 5 million years old and not yetburning hydrogenin their cores, theinfant starsare strewn about the embedded star cluster.This spectacular infrared viewof NGC 346 isfrom the James Webb Space Telescope'sNIRcam.Emission from atomic hydrogen ionized by the massive stars' energeticradiation as well as molecular hydrogen and dustin the star-forming molecular cloud is detailed in pink and orange hues.Webb's sharp imageof the young star-forming regionspans 240 light-years at...

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 January 14 Perihelion Sun 2023 Image Credit &Copyright: Peter Ward(Barden Ridge Observatory) Explanation: Perihelion for 2023,Earth's closest approach to the Sun,was on January 4 at 16:17 UTC.That was less than 24 hours after thissharp image of the Sun's diskwas recorded with telescope andH-alpha filter from Sidney, Australia, planet Earth. An H-alpha filtertransmits a characteristic red light from hydrogen atoms.In views of the Sun it emphasizes the Sun's chromosphere,a region just abovethe solar photosphere or normally visible solar surface.In this H-alpha image of theincreasingly active Sunplanet-sized sunspot regions are dominatedby bright splotches called plages.Dark filaments of plasmasnaking across the solar disk transitionto bright prominences when seenabove the solar limb. Tomorrow's picture: cosmic crustacean <| 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 Science Activation& Michigan Tech. U.

APOD: 2023 January 12 - Stardust in Perseus 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 January 12 Stardust in Perseus Image Credit &Copyright: Jack Groves Explanation: This cosmic expanseof dust, gas, and stars covers some 6 degreeson the sky in the heroic constellation Perseus.At upper left inthe gorgeous skyscapeis the intriguing young star clusterIC 348 andneighboring Flying Ghost Nebulawith clouds of obscuring interstellar dust catalogedas Barnard 3 and 4.At right, another active star formingregion NGC 1333 isconnected by dark and dusty tendrils on the outskirtsof the giantPerseusMolecular Cloud, about 850 light-years away.Other dusty nebulae are scattered around the field of view,along with the faintreddish glow of hydrogen gas.In fact, the cosmic dusttends to hide the newly formed starsand young stellar objects or protostars fromprying optical telescopes.Collapsing due toself-gravity, theprotostars formfrom the dense coresembedded in the molecular cloud.At the molecular cloud'sestimated distance, this fieldof view would span over 90 light-years. Tomorrow's picture: pixels in space <| 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 January 13 Young Star Cluster NGC 346 Image Credit:Science -NASA,ESA,CSA,Olivia C. Jones (UK ATC), Guido De Marchi (ESTEC), Margaret Meixner (USRA)Processing - Alyssa Pagan (STScI), Nolan Habel (USRA),Laura Lenkić (USRA), Laurie E. U. Chu (NASA Ames) Explanation: The most massive young star cluster in theSmall Magellanic Cloud is NGC 346,embedded in our small satellite galaxy's largest star forming regionsome 210,000 light-years distant.Of course themassive stars of NGC 346 are short lived, but veryenergetic. Their winds and radiationsculpt the edgesof the region's dusty molecular cloud triggeringstar-formation within.The star forming region also appears tocontain a large population of infant stars.A mere 3 to 5 million years old and not yetburning hydrogenin their cores, theinfant starsare strewn about the embedded star cluster.This spectacular infrared viewof NGC 346 isfrom the James Webb Space Telescope'sNIRcam.Emission from atomic hydrogen ionized by the massive stars' energeticradiation as well as and molecular hydrogen and dustin the star-forming molecular cloud is detailed in pink and orange hues.Webb's sharp imageof the young star-forming regionspans 240 light-years at the distance of the...

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 January 12 Stardust in Perseus Image Credit &Copyright: Jack Groves Explanation: This cosmic expanseof dust, gas, and stars covers some 6 degreeson the sky in the heroic constellation Perseus.At upper left inthe gorgeous skyscapeis the intriguing young star clusterIC 348 andneighboring Flying Ghost Nebulawith clouds of obscuring interstellar dust catalogedas Barnard 3 and 4.At right, another active star formingregion NGC 1333 isconnected by dark and dusty tendrils on the outskirtsof the giantPerseusMolecular Cloud, about 850 light-years away.Other dusty nebulae are scattered around the field of view,along with the faintreddish glow of hydrogen gas.In fact, the cosmic dusttends to hide the newly formed starsand young stellar objects or protostars fromprying optical telescopes.Collapsing due toself-gravity, theprotostars formfrom the dense coresembedded in the molecular cloud.At the molecular cloud'sestimated distance, this fieldof view would span over 90 light-years. Tomorrow's picture: pixels in space <| 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...

APOD: 2023 January 6 - Moon O'Clock 2022 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 January 6 Moon O'Clock 2022 Image Credit &Copyright: Niveth Kumar Explanation: The first Full Moon of 2023is inthe sky tonightopposite the Sun at 23:08UTC.Big and beautiful, the Moon at itsbrightest phase should be easy to spot.Still, for quick reference images captured near the times ofall the full moons of 2022 are aranged in thisdedicated astro-imaging projectfrom Sri Lanka, planet Earth.The day, month, and a traditional popular name for 2022's twelve full moonsare given in the chart.The apparent size of each full moon dependson how close the full lunar phase is toperigee or apogee,the closest or farthest point in the Moon's elliptical orbit.Like the 2022 Wolf Moon at the 1 o'clock position,tonight's Full Moon occurs within about two days of apogee.But unlike in 2022,the year 2023will have 13 full moons thatwon't all fit nicely on the twelve hour clock. Tomorrow's picture: stations in space <| 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 January 7 Space Stations in Low Earth Orbit Image Credit &Copyright: Zarcos Palma Explanation: On January 3, two space stationsalready illuminated by sunlight in low Earth orbitcrossed this dark predawn sky.Moving west to east (left to right) across the compositedtimelapse imageChina's Tiangong Space Stationtraced the upper trail capturedmore than an hour before the local sunrise.Seen against a starry backgroundTiangong passes just belowthe inverted Big Dipper asterism of Ursa Majornear the peak of its bright arc,and above north pole star Polaris.But less than five minutes before, theInternational Space Stationhad traced its own sunlit streak across the dark sky.Its trail beginsjust above the W-shape outlined by the brightstars of Cassiopeia near the northern horizon.The dramatic foreground spans an abandoned mine at Achada do Gamoin southeastern Portugal. Tomorrow's picture: where you come from <| 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 Science Activation& Michigan Tech. U.

APOD: 2023 January 5 - Messier 45: The Daughters of Atlas and Pleione 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 January 5 Messier 45: The Daughters of Atlas and Pleione Image Credit &Copyright: Stefan Thrun Explanation: Hurtling through acosmic dust cloud a mere 400 light-yearsaway, thelovely Pleiadesor Seven Sisters open star cluster is well-known for its striking bluereflection nebulae.It lies in the night sky toward the constellation Taurus and theOrion Arm of our Milky Way galaxy.The sister starsare not related to the dusty cloud though.They just happen to be passing through the same region of space.Known since antiquity as a compact grouping of stars,Galileo first sketchedthe star cluster viewed through his telescopewith stars too faint to be seen by eye.Charles Messier recordedthe position of the cluster asthe 45th entry in his famous catalog of things which are not comets.In Greek myth, thePleiades were seven daughtersof the astronomical titan Atlas and sea-nymph Pleione.Their parents names are included in thecluster's nine brightest stars.This well-processed, color-calibratedtelescopic image featurespin-point stars and detailed filaments of interstellar dust capturedin over 9 hours of exposure.It spans more than 20 light-years...

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 January 6 Moon O'Clock 2022 Image Credit &Copyright: Niveth Kumar Explanation: The first Full Moon of 2023is inthe sky tonightopposite the Sun at 23:08UTC.Big and beautiful, the Moon at itsbrightest phase should be easy to spot.Still, for quick reference images captured near the times ofall the full moons of 2022 are aranged in thisdedicated astro-imaging projectfrom Sri Lanka, planet Earth.The day, month, and a traditional popular name for 2022's twelve full moonsare given in the chart.The apparent size of each full moon dependson how close the full lunar phase is toperigee or apogee,the closest or farthest point in the Moon's elliptical orbit.Like the 2022 Wolf Moon at the 1 o'clock position,tonight's Full Moon occurs within a about two days of apogee.But unlike in 2022,the year 2023will have 13 full moons thatwon't all fit nicely on the twelve hour clock. Tomorrow's picture: stations in space <| 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...

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 January 5 Messier 45: The Daughters of Atlas and Pleione Image Credit &Copyright: Stefan Thrun Explanation: Hurtling through acosmic dust cloud a mere 400 light-yearsaway, thelovely Pleiadesor Seven Sisters open star cluster is well-known for its striking bluereflection nebulae.It lies in the night sky toward the constellation Taurus and theOrion Arm of our Milky Way galaxy.The sister starsare not related to the dusty cloud though.They just happen to be passing through the same region of space.Known since antiquity as a compact grouping of stars,Galileo first sketchedthe star cluster viewed through his telescopewith stars too faint to be seen by eye.Charles Messier recordedthe position of the cluster asthe 45th entry in his famous catalog of things which are not comets.In Greek myth, thePleiades were seven daughtersof the astronomical titan Atlas and sea-nymph Pleione.Their parents names are included in thecluster's nine brightest stars.This well-processed, color-calibratedtelescopic image featurespin-point stars and detailed filaments of interstellar dust capturedin over 9 hours of exposure.It spans more than 20 light-years across the Pleiades star cluster. Tomorrow's picture: pixels...

APOD: 2022 December 31 - Moon over Makemake 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. 2022 December 31 Moon over Makemake Illustration Credit: Alex H. Parker(Southwest Research Institute) Explanation: Makemake(sounds like MAH-kay MAH-kay),second brightest dwarf planet of theKuiperbelt,has a moon.Nicknamed MK2, Makemake's moon reflects sunlight witha charcoal-dark surface, about 1,300 times fainter than its parent body.Still, in 2016 it was spotted inHubble Space Telescope observationsintended to search for faint companions with the sametechnique used to find the smallsatellites of Pluto.Just as for Pluto and its satellites, further observations ofMakemake and orbiting moonwill measure the system's mass and densityand allow a broader understanding of the distant worlds.About 160 kilometers (100 miles) across compared toMakemake's 1,400 kilometer diameter,MK2's relative size and contrast are shown in this artist's vision.An imagined scene of anunexploredfrontier of the Solar System,it looks back from a spacecraft'svantage as the dim Sun shines alongthe Milky Way.Of course,the Sun is over 50 times farther from Makemake thanit is from planet Earth. Tomorrow's picture: planet Earth <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry...

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 January 1 The Largest Rock in our Solar System Image Credit: NASA, Voyager 1 spacecraft Explanation: There, that dot on the right, that's the largest rock known in our Solar System.It is larger than every known asteroid, moon, and comet nucleus. It is larger than any other local rocky planet. This rock is so large its gravity makes it into a large ball that holds heavy gases near its surface. (It used to be the largest known rock of any type until the recent discoveries of large dense planets orbiting other stars.) The Voyager 1 spacecraft took the featured picture -- famously called Pale Blue Dot --of this giant space rock in 1990 from the outer Solar System. Today, this rock starts another orbit around its parent star, for roughly the 5 billionth time, spinning over 350 times during each trip. Happy Gregorian Calendar New Year to all inhabitants of this rock we call Earth. Tomorrow's picture: planets align <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss|...

APOD: 2022 December 30 - Mars and the Star Clusters 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. 2022 December 30 Mars and the Star Clusters Image Credit &Copyright:Gabor Balazs Explanation: At this year'sendMars stillshines brightly inplanet Earth's nightas it wanders through the head-strong constellation Taurus.Its bright yellowish hue dominates thisstarry field of viewthat includes Taurus' alpha star Aldebaran and theHyades and Pleiades star clusters.Whilered giant Aldebaranappears to anchor theV-shape of the Hyadesat the left of the frame, Aldebaran is not a member of the Hyades starcluster.The Hyades cluster is 151 light-years away making it the nearestestablished open star cluster, but Aldebaran lies at less than halfthat distance, along the same line-of-sight. At the right, some 400 light-years distant is the open star clustercataloged as Messier 45,also known as the Pleiades or Seven Sisters.In Greek myth, the Pleiades weredaughters of theastronomicaltitan Atlas and sea-nymphPleione. Tomorrow's picture: so nice, they named it twice <| 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. 2022 December 31 Moon over Makemake Illustration Credit: Alex H. Parker(Southwest Research Institute) Explanation: Makemake(sounds like MAH-kay MAH-kay),second brightest dwarf planet of theKuiperbelt,has a moon.Nicknamed MK2, Makemake's moon reflects sunlight witha charcoal-dark surface, about 1,300 times fainter than its parent body.Still, in 2016 it was spotted inHubble Space Telescope observationsintended to search for faint companions with the sametechnique used to find the smallsatellites of Pluto.Just as for Pluto and its satellites, further observations ofMakemake and orbiting moonwill measure the system's mass and densityand allow a broader understanding of the distant worlds.About 160 kilometers (100 miles) across compared toMakemake's 1,400 kilometer diameter,MK2's relative size and contrast are shown in this artist's vision.An imagined scene of an unexplored frontier of the Solar System,it looks back from a spacecraft'svantage as the dim Sun shines alongthe Milky Way.Of course, the Sun is over 50 times farther from Makemake thanit is from planet Earth. Tomorrow's picture: planet Earth <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry...

APOD: 2022 December 26 - NGC 6164: Dragon's Egg Nebula and Halo 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. 2022 December 26 NGC 6164: Dragon's Egg Nebula and Halo Image Credit & Copyright: Russell Croman Explanation: The star at the center created everything. Known as the Dragon's Egg, this star -- a rare, hot, luminousO-typestar some 40 times as massive as the Sun -- created not only the complex nebula (NGC 6164) that immediately surrounds it, but also the encompassing blue halo.Its name is derived, in part, from the region's proximity to the picturesque NGC 6188, known as the fighting Dragons of Ara.In another three to four million years the massive star will likely end itslife in a supernova explosion.Spanning around 4 light-years,the nebula itselfhas a bipolar symmetry making it similar in appearance to more common planetarynebulae - the gaseous shroudssurrounding dying sun-like stars.Also like many planetary nebulae, NGC 6164 has been found to havean extensive, faint halo, revealed in blue in this deep telescopic image of the region.Expanding into the surroundinginterstellar medium,the material in the blue halo was likely expelled from an earlier...

APOD: 2022 December 29 - Horsehead and Flame 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. 2022 December 29 Horsehead and Flame Image Credit &Copyright:Jason Close Explanation: The Horsehead Nebula,famous celestialdark marking also known as Barnard 33,is notched against a background glow of emission nebulae inthis sharp cosmic skyscape.About five light-years "tall" the Horsehead lies some 1,500 light-years away in the constellation of Orion.Within the region's fertile molecular cloud complex,the expanse of obscuring dust has a recognizable shape onlyby chance fromour perspectivein theMilky Waythough.Orion's easternmost belt star, bright Alnitak,is to the left of center. Energetic ultraviolet light fromAlnitak powers the glow ofdusty NGC 2024, the Flame Nebula, just below it.Completing a study in cosmic contrasts, bluish reflectionnebula NGC 2023 is below the Horsehead itself.This well-framed telescopic field spans about 3 full moons onthe sky. Tomorrow's picture: Mars and the stars <| 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 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. 2022 December 30 Mars and the Star Clusters Image Credit &Copyright:Gabor Balazs Explanation: At this year'sendMars stillshines brightly inplanet Earth's nightas it wanders through the head-strong constellation Taurus.Its bright yellowish hue dominates thisstarry field of viewthat includes Taurus' alpha star Aldebaran and theHyades and Pleiades star clusters.Whilered giant Aldebaranappears to anchor theV-shape of the Hyadesat the left of the frame, Aldebaran is not a member of the Hyades starcluster.The Hyades cluster is 151 light-years away making it the nearestestablished open star cluster, but Aldebaran lies at less than halfthat distance, along the same line-of-sight. At the right, some 400 light-years distant is the open star clustercataloged as Messier 45,also known as the Pleiades or Seven Sisters.In Greek myth, the Pleiades weredaughters of theastronomicaltitan Atlas and sea-nymphPleione. Tomorrow's picture: so nice, they named it twice <| 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 Science Activation& Michigan...

APOD: 2022 December 28 - Messier 88 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. 2022 December 28 Messier 88 Image Credit &Copyright:Adam Block,Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter,U. Arizona Explanation: Charles Messierdescribed the 88th entry in his 18th century catalog ofNebulae and Star Clustersas a nebula without stars.Of course thegorgeous M88is now understood tobe a spiral galaxy full of stars, gas, and dust, not unlikeour own Milky Way.In fact, M88 is one of the brightest galaxies in theVirgo Galaxy Clustersome 50 million light-yearsaway.M88's beautiful spiral arms are easy to trace in thissharp cosmic portait. The arms are lined with young bluestar clusters, pinkstar-forming regions,and obscuring dust lanesextending from a yellowishcore dominated by an older population of stars.Spiral galaxy M88 spans over 100,000 light-years. Tomorrow's picture: Barnard 33 <| 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 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. 2022 December 29 Horsehead and Flame Image Credit &Copyright:Jason Close Explanation: The Horsehead Nebula,famous celestialdark marking also known as Barnard 33,is notched against a background glow of emission nebulae inthis sharp cosmic skyscape.About five light-years "tall" the Horsehead lies some 1,500 light-years away in the constellation of Orion.Within the region's fertile molecular cloud complex,the expanse of obscuring dust has a recognizable shape onlyby chance fromour perspectivein theMilky Waythough.Orion's easternmost belt star, bright Alnitak,is to the left of center. Energetic ultraviolet light fromAlnitak powers the glow ofdusty NGC 2024, the Flame Nebula, just below it.Completing a study in cosmic contrasts, bluish reflectionnebula NGC 2023 is below the Horsehead itself.This well-framed telescopic field spans about 3 full moons onthe sky. Tomorrow's picture: pixels in space <| 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 Science Activation& Michigan Tech. U.

APOD: 2022 December 27 - A Full Circle Rainbow over Norway 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. 2022 December 27 A Full Circle Rainbow over Norway Image Credit & Copyright: Lukas Moesch Explanation: Have you ever seen an entire rainbow?From the ground, typically, only the top portion of a rainbow is visible because directions toward the ground have fewer raindrops.From the air, though, the entire 360-degree circle of a rainbow is more commonly visible.Pictured here, a full-circle rainbow was captured over the Lofoten Islands of Norway in September by a drone passing through a rain shower.An observer-dependent phenomenon primarily caused by the internal reflection of sunlight by raindrops, the rainbow has a full diameter of 84 degrees.The Sun is in the exact opposite direction from the rainbow's center. As a bonus, a second rainbow that was more faint and color-reversed was visible outside the first. Tomorrow's picture: open space <| 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...