APOD: 2022 November 28 - Leonid Meteors Through Orion 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 November 28 Leonid Meteors Through Orion Image Credit & Copyright: Luo Hongyang Explanation: Where will the next meteor appear?Even during a meteor shower, it is practically impossible to know.Therefore, a good way to enjoy a meteor shower is to find a place where you can sit comfortably and monitor a great expanse of dark sky.And it may be satisfying to share this experience with a friend. The meteor shower depicted was the 2022 Leonids which peaked earlier this month, and the view is from Hainan, China looking out over the South China Sea.Meteor streaks captured over a few hours were isolated and added to a foreground image recorded earlier. From this place and time, Leonid meteors that trace back to the constellation of Leo were seen streaking across other constellations including Orion.The bright red planet Mars appears near the top of the image.Bonding over their love of astronomy, the two pictured meteor enthusiasts, shown celebrating their common birthday this month, are now married. Tomorrow's picture: closest supernova...

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 November 29 The Gum Nebula Supernova Remnant Image Credit & Copyright: Victor Lima Explanation: Because the Gum Nebula is the closest supernova remnant, it is actually hard to see. Spanning 40 degrees across the sky, the nebula appears so large and faint that it is easily lost in the din of a bright and complex background. The Gum Nebula is highlighted nicely in red emission toward the right of the featured wide-angle, single-image photograph taken inlate May.Also visible in the frame are the Atacama Desert in Chile in the foreground,the Carina Nebula in the plane of our Milky Way galaxy running diagonally down from the upper left, and the neighboring Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) galaxy.The Gum Nebula is so close that we are much nearer the front edge than the back edge, each measuring 450 and 1500 light years respectively. The complicated nebula lies in the direction of the constellations of Puppis and Vela. Oddly, much remains unknown about the Gum Nebula, including the timing and even number of supernova explosions...

APOD: 2022 November 27 - Supernumerary Rainbows over New Jersey 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 November 27 Supernumerary Rainbows over New Jersey Image Credit & Copyright: John Entwistle Explanation: Yes, but can your rainbow do this? After the remnants of Hurricane Florence passed over theJersey Shore, New Jersey, USA in 2018, the Sun came out in one direction but something quite unusual appeared in the opposite direction: a hall of rainbows. Over the course of a next half hour, to the delight of the photographer and his daughter, vibrant supernumerary rainbows faded in and out, with at least five captured in this featured single shot. Supernumerary rainbows only form when falling water droplets are all nearly the same size and typically less than a millimeter across. Then, sunlight will not only reflect from inside the raindrops, but interfere, a wave phenomenon similar to ripples on a pond when a stone is thrown in.In fact, supernumerary rainbows can only be explained with waves, and their noted existence in the early 1800s was considered early evidence of light's wave nature. Your Sky Surprise:...

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 November 28 Leonid Meteors Through Orion Image Credit & Copyright: Luo Hongyang Explanation: Where will the next meteor appear?Even during a meteor shower, it is practically impossible to know.Therefore, a good way to enjoy a meteor shower is to find a place where you can sit comfortably and monitor a great expanse of dark sky.And it may be satisfying to share this experience with a friend. The meteor shower depicted was the 2022 Leonids which peaked earlier this month, and the view is from Hainan, China looking out over the South China Sea.Meteor streaks captured over a few hours were isolated and added to a foreground image recorded earlier. From this place and time, Leonid meteors that trace back to the constellation of Leo were seen streaking across other constellations including Orion.The bright red planet Mars appears near the top of the image.Bonding over their love of astronomy, the two pictured meteor enthusiasts, shown celebrating their common birthday this month, are now married. Tomorrow's picture: closest supernova remnant <| Archive| Submissions...

APOD: 2022 November 26 - Saturn at Night 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 November 26 Saturn at Night NASA,JPL-Caltech, Space Science Institute,Mindaugas Macijauskas Explanation: Saturn is still brightin planet Earth's night skies.Telescopic views of the distant gas giant and its beautiful ringsoften make it a star at starparties.But this stunning view of Saturn's rings and night sidejust isn't possible from telescopes closer to the Sunthan the outer planet.They can only bringSaturn's day intoview.In fact, this image of Saturn's slender sunlit crescentwith night's shadow cast across its broad and complex ring systemwas captured by the Cassini spacecraft.A robot spacecraft from planet Earth, Cassini called Saturn orbithome for 13 years before it was directed to diveinto the atmosphere of the gas giant on September 15, 2017.This magnificent mosaicis composed of frames recordedby Cassini'swide-angle camera only two days before itsgrand final plunge.Saturn's night will not be seen again untilanother spaceshipfrom Earth calls. Tomorrow's picture: supernumerary <| 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. 2022 November 27 Supernumerary Rainbows over New Jersey Image Credit & Copyright: John Entwistle Explanation: Yes, but can your rainbow do this? After the remnants of Hurricane Florence passed over theJersey Shore, New Jersey, USA in 2018, the Sun came out in one direction but something quite unusual appeared in the opposite direction: a hall of rainbows. Over the course of a next half hour, to the delight of the photographer and his daughter, vibrant supernumerary rainbows faded in and out, with at least five captured in this featured single shot. Supernumerary rainbows only form when falling water droplets are all nearly the same size and typically less than a millimeter across. Then, sunlight will not only reflect from inside the raindrops, but interfere, a wave phenomenon similar to ripples on a pond when a stone is thrown in.In fact, supernumerary rainbows can only be explained with waves, and their noted existence in the early 1800s was considered early evidence of light's wave nature. Your Sky Surprise: What picture did APOD feature...

APOD: 2022 November 25 - NGC 6744: Extragalactic Close Up 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 November 25 NGC 6744: Extragalactic Close-Up Image Credit: NASA,ESA, and theLEGUS team Explanation: Beautiful spiral galaxy NGC 6744 is nearly 175,000 light-yearsacross.That's larger than the Milky Way.It lies some 30 million light-years distant in the southernconstellation Pavo, with its galactic disk tilted towards our line of sight.This Hubble close-upof the nearby island universe spans about24,000 light-years or so across NGC 6744's central region.The Hubble view combines visible light and ultraviolet image data.The giant galaxy'syellowish core is dominated by the visible light from old, cool stars.Beyond the core are star-forming regions andyoung star clusters scattered along the inner spiral arms.NGC 6744's young star clusters are bright at ultraviolet wavelengths,shown in blue and magenta hues.Spiky starsscattered around the frame are foreground stars and wellwithin our own Milky Way. 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: Phillip NewmanSpecific rights apply.NASA WebPrivacy Policy and Important 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. 2022 November 26 Saturn at Night NASA,JPL-Caltech, Space Science Institute,Mindaugas Macijauskas Explanation: Saturn is still brightin planet Earth's night skies.Telescopic views of the distant gas giant and its beautiful ringsoften make it a star at starparties.But this stunning view of Saturn's rings and night sidejust isn't possible from telescopes closer to the Sunthan the outer planet.They can only bringSaturn's day intoview.In fact, this image of Saturn's slender sunlit crescentwith night's shadow cast across its broad and complex ring systemwas captured by the Cassini spacecraft.A robot spacecraft from planet Earth, Cassini called Saturn orbithome for 13 years before it was directed to diveinto the atmosphere of the gas giant on September 15, 2017.This magnificent mosaicis composed of frames recordedby Cassini'swide-angle camera only two days before itsgrand final plunge.Saturn's night will not be seen again untilanother spaceshipfrom Earth calls. Tomorrow's picture: supernumerary <| 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: 2022 November 24 - Lynds Dark Nebula 1251 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 November 24 Lynds Dark Nebula 1251 Image Credit &Copyright:Stefano Attalienti Explanation: Stars are forming in Lynds Dark Nebula(LDN)1251.About 1,000 light-years away and drifting above the plane of ourMilky Way galaxy, the dusty molecular cloudis part of a complex of dark nebulae mapped toward theCepheus flare region.Across the spectrum,astronomical explorations of the obscuringinterstellar clouds reveal energetic shocks and outflowsassociated with newborn stars,including the telltale reddish glow from scatteredHerbig-Haroobjects hiding in the image.Distant background galaxies also lurk on the scene,almost buried behind the dusty expanse.This alluring viewspans over four full moons on the sky, or 35 light-years at theestimated distance of LDN 1251. 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.

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 November 25 NGC 6744: Extragalactic Close-Up Image Credit: NASA,ESA, and theLEGUS team Explanation: Beautiful spiral galaxy NGC 6744 is nearly 175,000 light-yearsacross.That's larger than the Milky Way.It lies some 30 million light-years distant in the southernconstellation Pavo, with its galactic disk tilted towards our line of sight.This Hubble close-upof the nearby island universe spans about24,000 light-years or so across NGC 6744's central region.The Hubble view combines visible light and ultraviolet image data.The giant galaxy'syellowish core is dominated by the visible light from old, cool stars.Beyond the core are star-forming regions andyoung star clusters scattered along the inner spiral arms.NGC 6744's young star clusters are bright at ultraviolet wavelengths,shown in blue and magenta hues.Spiky starsscattered around the frame are foreground stars and wellwithin our own Milky Way. 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: Phillip NewmanSpecific rights apply.NASA WebPrivacy Policy and Important NoticesA service of:ASD atNASA /GSFC,NASA Science Activation& Michigan Tech. U.

APOD: 2022 November 23 - Earthset from Orion 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 November 23 Earthset from Orion Image Credit:NASA,Artemis 1 Explanation: Eight billion peopleare about to disappear in thissnapshot from space.Taken on November 21, thesixth day of the Artemis 1 mission,their home world is setting behind the Moon's bright edge as viewed by anexternal cameraon the outbound Orion spacecraft.The Orion was headed for a powered flyby thattook it to within 130 kilometers of the lunar surface.Velocity gained in the flyby maneuver will be used to reach adistant retrograde orbitaround the Moon.That orbit is considered distant because it's another 92,000 kilometersbeyond the Moon, and retrograde because the spacecraft willorbit in the opposite direction of the Moon's orbit around planet Earth.Orion will enter its distant retrograde orbit on Friday, November 25.Swinging around the Moon,Orion will reach a maximum distance (just over 400,000 kilometers)from Earth on Monday November 28 exceeding a record set byApollo 13 for most distantspacecraft designed forhuman space exploration. Tomorrow's picture: pixels in space <| 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. 2022 November 24 Lynds Dark Nebula 1251 Image Credit &Copyright:Stefano Attalienti Explanation: Stars are forming in Lynds Dark Nebula(LDN)1251.About 1,000 light-years away and drifting above the plane of ourMilky Way galaxy, the dusty molecular cloudis part of a complex of dark nebulae mapped toward theCepheus flare region.Across the spectrum,astronomical explorations of the obscuringinterstellar clouds reveal energetic shocks and outflowsassociated with newborn stars,including the telltale reddish glow from scatteredHerbig-Haroobjects hiding in the image.Distant background galaxies also lurk on the scene,almost buried behind the dusty expanse.This alluring viewspans over four full moons on the sky, or 35 light-years at theestimated distance of LDN 1251. 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 November 22 - A Double Star Cluster 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. 2022 November 22 A Double Star Cluster in Perseus Image Credit & Copyright: Tommy Lease Explanation: Few star clusters are this close to each other. Visible to the unaided eye from dark sky areas, it was cataloged in 130 BC by Greek astronomer Hipparchus. Some 7,000 light-years away, this pair of open star clusters is also an easy binocular target, a striking starfield in the northern constellation of the mythical Greek hero Perseus.Now known as h and chi Persei, or NGC 869 (above right) and NGC 884, the clusters themselves are separated by only a few hundred light-years and contain stars much younger and hotter than the Sun. In addition to being physically close together, the clusters' ages based on their individual stars are similar - evidence that both clusters were likely a product of the same star-forming region. 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:...

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 November 23 Earthset from Orion Image Credit:NASA,Artemis 1 Explanation: Eight billion people are about to disappear in thissnapshot from space.Taken on November 21, thesixth day of the Artemis 1 mission,their home world is setting behind the Moon's bright edge as viewed by anexternal cameraon the outbound Orion spacecraft.The Orion was headed for a powered flyby thattook it to within 130 kilometers of the lunar surface.Velocity gained in the flyby maneuver will be used to reach adistant retrograde orbitaround the Moon.That orbit is considered distant because it's another 92,000 kilometersbeyond the Moon, and retrograde because the spacecraft willorbit in the opposite direction of the Moon's orbit around planet Earth.Orion will enter its distant retrograde orbit on Friday, November 25.Swinging around the Moon,Orion will reach a maximum distance (just over 400,000 kilometers)from Earth on Monday November 28 exceeding a record set byApollo 13 for most distantspacecraft designed forhuman space exploration. Tomorrow's picture: pixels in space <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU)...

APOD: 2022 November 21 - The Butterfly Nebula from Hubble 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 November 21 The Butterfly Nebula from Hubble Image Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble;Processing: William Ostling Explanation: Stars can make beautiful patterns as they age -- sometimes similar to flowers or insects.NGC 6302, the Butterfly Nebula, is a notable example. Though its gaseous wingspan covers over 3 light-years and its estimated surface temperature exceeds 200,000 degreesC,the aging central star of NGC 6302, the featured planetary nebula, has become exceptionally hot, shining brightly in visible and ultraviolet light but hidden from direct view by a dense torus of dust.This sharp close-up was recorded by the HubbleSpace Telescope and is processed here to show off remarkabledetails of the complex planetary nebula, highlighting in particular light emitted by oxygen (shown as blue), hydrogen (green), and nitrogen (red).NGC 6302lies about 3,500 light-years away in thearachnologically correct constellation of the Scorpion (Scorpius).Planetary nebulas evolve from outer atmospheres of stars like our Sun, but usually fade in about 20,000 years. Tomorrow's picture: double space <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About...

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 November 22 A Double Star Cluster in Perseus Image Credit & Copyright: Tommy Lease Explanation: Few star clusters this close to each other. Visible to the unaided eye from dark sky areas, it was cataloged in 130 BC by Greek astronomer Hipparchus. Some 7,000 light-years away, this pair of open star clusters is also an easy binocular target, a striking starfield in the northern constellation of the mythical Greek hero Perseus.Now known as h and chi Persei, or NGC 869 (above right) and NGC 884, the clusters themselves are separated by only a few hundred light-years and contain stars much younger and hotter than the Sun. In addition to being physically close together, the clusters' ages based on their individual stars are similar - evidence that both clusters were likely a product of the same star-forming region. 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...

APOD: 2022 November 20 - Airglow Ripples over Tibet 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 November 20 Airglow Ripples over Tibet Image Credit & Copyright: Jeff Dai Explanation: Why would the sky look like a giant target?Airglow.Following a giant thunderstorm over Bangladesh in late April, giant circular ripples of glowing air appeared over Tibet, China, as pictured here.The unusual pattern is created by atmospheric gravity waves, waves of alternating air pressure that can grow with height as the air thins, in this case about 90-kilometers up. Unlike auroras powered by collisions with energetic charged particles and seen at high latitudes, airglow is due to chemiluminescence, the production of light in a chemical reaction. More typically seen near the horizon, airglow keeps the night sky from ever being completely dark. Tomorrow's picture: butterfly sky <| 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 November 21 The Butterfly Nebula from Hubble Image Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble;Processing: William Ostling Explanation: Stars can make beautiful patterns as they age -- sometimes similar to flowers or insects.NGC 6302, the Butterfly Nebula, is a notable example. Though its gaseous wingspan covers over 3 light-years and its estimated surface temperature exceeds 200,000 degreesC,the aging central star of NGC 6302, the featured planetary nebula, has become exceptionally hot, shining brightly in visible and ultraviolet light but hidden from direct view by a dense torus of dust.This sharp close-up was recorded by the HubbleSpace Telescope and is processed here to show off remarkabledetails of the complex planetary nebula, highlighting in particular light emitted by oxygen (shown as blue), hydrogen (green), and nitrogen (red).NGC 6302lies about 3,500 light-years away in thearachnologically correct constellation of the Scorpion (Scorpius).Planetary nebulas evolve from outer atmospheres of stars like our Sun, but usually fade in about 20,000 years. Tomorrow's picture: double space <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors &...

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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 November 20 Airglow Ripples over Tibet Image Credit & Copyright: Jeff Dai Explanation: Why would the sky look like a giant target?Airglow.Following a giant thunderstorm over Bangladesh in late April, giant circular ripples of glowing air appeared over Tibet, China, as pictured here.The unusual pattern is created by atmospheric gravity waves, waves of alternating air pressure that can grow with height as the air thins, in this case about 90-kilometers up. Unlike auroras powered by collisions with energetic charged particles and seen at high latitudes, airglow is due to chemiluminescence, the production of light in a chemical reaction. More typically seen near the horizon, airglow keeps the night sky from ever being completely dark. Tomorrow's picture: butterfly sky <| 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.