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 22 NGC 1365: Majestic Island Universe Image Credit &Copyright:Martin Pugh Explanation: Barred spiral galaxy NGC 1365 is truly a majesticisland universe some 200,000light-years across.Located a mere 60 million light-years away toward the faint but heatedconstellationFornax,NGC 1365 is adominant member of the well-studiedFornax Cluster of galaxies.This impressivelysharp color imageshows the intense, reddish star forming regions near theends of central bar and along the spiral arms,with details of the obscuring dust lanes cuttingacross the galaxy's bright core.At the core lies a supermassive black hole.Astronomers thinkNGC 1365'sprominent bar plays a crucial role in thegalaxy's evolution,drawing gas and dust into a star-forming maelstromand ultimately feeding material into thecentral black hole. Tomorrow's picture: northern Saturn <| 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 20 - Thors Helmet 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 20 Thor's Helmet Image Credit & Copyright: Hannah Rochford Explanation: Thor not only has his own day (Thursday), but a helmet in the heavens. Popularly called Thor's Helmet, NGC 2359 is a hat-shaped cosmic cloud with wing-like appendages.Heroically sized even for aNorse god,Thor's Helmet is about 30 light-years across.In fact, the cosmic head-covering is more likean interstellar bubble, blown with a fastwind from the bright, massive star near the bubble's center.Known as aWolf-Rayet star, the central star is an extremely hot giant thought to be in a brief,pre-supernova stage of evolution.NGC 2359 is located about15,000 light-years away toward the constellation of the Great Overdog.This remarkably sharp imageis a mixed cocktail of data from narrowband filters,capturing not only natural looking stars but details ofthe nebula'sfilamentary structures.The star in the center of Thor's Helmet is expected to explode in a spectacularsupernova sometime within the next few thousand years. Almost Hyperspace: Random APOD Generator Tomorrow's picture: solstice sun <| 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. 2022 December 21 Sun Halo at Sixty-three Degrees North Image Credit &Copyright:Goran Strand Explanation: Happy Solstice!Today is the December solstice,marking an astronomical beginning ofsummer in the southern hemisphere and winter in the north.On its yearly trek through planet Earth's skies,at this solstice the Sun reaches its southern most declination,23.5 degreessouth, at 21:48UTC.About 4 days ago the Sun was near this seasonal southern limit and so only justabove the horizon at local noon over Ostersund in central Sweden.This view looking over the far northern lakeside city finds the middaySun with a beautifulsolar ice halo.Naturally occurringatmospheric ice crystalscan produce thetantalizing halo displays,refracting and reflecting the sunlight through their hexagonal geometry. Still, with the Sun low and near the horizon in the clear sky, likely sources of the ice crystals producing thisintense halo are snow cannons.Operating at a local ski area, the snowmaking machines createa visible plume at the top of the nearby island Froson towardthe right side of the panorama. Tomorrow's picture: northern spiral <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About...

APOD: 2022 December 19 - The Tadpole Nebula in Gas and Dust 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 19 The Tadpole Nebula in Gas and Dust Image Credit & Copyright: Craig Stocks(Utah Desert Remote Observatories) Explanation: What's causing the commotion in the Tadpole Nebula?Star formation. Dusty emission in the Tadpole Nebula, IC 410, lies about 12,000 light-years away in the northern constellation of the Charioteer (Auriga).The cloud of glowing gas is over 100 light-years across,sculpted bystellar winds and radiation from embedded open star cluster NGC 1893.Formed in the interstellar clouda mere4 million years ago, bright newly formed cluster stars are seen all around the star-forming nebula. Notable on the lower-right of the featured image are two relatively dense streamers of material trailing away from the nebula's central regions.Potentially sites of ongoing star formation in IC 410, thesecosmic tadpoleshapes are about 10 light-years long.The image was processed highlighting the emission from sulfur (red), hydrogen (green), and oxygen (blue) gas -- but with the stars digitally removed. Tomorrow's picture: Big Thor <| 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. 2022 December 20 Thor's Helmet Image Credit & Copyright: Hannah Rochford Explanation: Thor not only has his own day (Thursday), but a helmet in the heavens. Popularly called Thor's Helmet, NGC 2359 is a hat-shaped cosmic cloud with wing-like appendages.Heroically sized even for aNorse god,Thor's Helmet is about 30 light-years across.In fact, the cosmic head-covering is more likean interstellar bubble, blown with a fastwind from the bright, massive star near the bubble's center.Known as aWolf-Rayet star, the central star is an extremely hot giant thought to be in a brief,pre-supernova stage of evolution.NGC 2359 is located about15,000 light-years away toward the constellation of the Great Overdog.This remarkably sharp imageis a mixed cocktail of data from narrowband filters,capturing not only natural looking stars but details ofthe nebula'sfilamentary structures.The star in the center of Thor's Helmet is expected to explode in a spectacularsupernova sometime within the next few thousand years. Almost Hyperspace: Random APOD Generator Tomorrow's picture: solstice sun <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors &...

APOD: 2022 December 18 - The 25 Brightest Stars in the Night Sky 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 18 25 Brightest Stars in the Night Sky Image Credit & Copyright: Tragoolchitr Jittasaiyapan Explanation: Do you know the names of some of the brightest stars?It's likely that you do, even though some bright stars have names so old they date back to near the beginning of written language.Many world cultures have their own names for the brightest stars, and it is culturally and historically important to remember them. In the interest of clear global communication, however, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) has begun to designate standardized star names. Featured here in true color are the 25 brightest stars in the night sky, currently as seen by humans, coupled with their IAU-recognized names.Some star names have interesting meanings, including Sirius ("the scorcher" in Latin), Vega ("falling" in Arabic), and Antares ("rival to Mars" in Greek).You are likely even familiar with the name of at least one startoo dim to make this list:Polaris. Almost Hyperspace: Random APOD Generator Tomorrow's picture: interstellar tadpoles <|...

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 19 The Tadpole Nebula in Gas and Dust Image Credit & Copyright: Craig Stocks(Utah Desert Remote Observatories) Explanation: What's causing the commotion in the Tadpole Nebula?Star formation. Dusty emission in the Tadpole Nebula, IC 410, lies about 12,000 light-years away in the northern constellation of the Charioteer (Auriga).The cloud of glowing gas is over 100 light-years across,sculpted bystellar winds and radiation from embedded open star cluster NGC 1893.Formed in the interstellar clouda mere4 million years ago, bright newly formed cluster stars are seen all around the star-forming nebula. Notable on the lower-right of the featured image are two relatively dense streamers of material trailing away from the nebula's central regions.Potentially sites of ongoing star formation in IC 410, thesecosmic tadpoleshapes are about 10 light-years long.The image was processed highlighting the emission from sulfur (red), hydrogen (green), and oxygen (blue) gas -- but with the stars digitally removed. Tomorrow's picture: Big Thor <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry...

APOD: 2022 December 17 - Apollo 17 VIP Site Anaglyph 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 17 Apollo 17 VIP Site Anaglyph Image Credit: Gene Cernan,Apollo 17,NASA;Anaglyph byErik van Meijgaarden Explanation: Get out your red/blue glasses and check out thisstereo scene from Taurus-Littrow valleyon the Moon!The color anaglyph features a detailed 3D view ofApollo 17's Lunar Roverin the foreground -- behind it lies the Lunar Module anddistant lunar hills.Because the world was going to be ableto watchthe Lunar Module'sascent stage liftoff via the rover's TV camera, thisparking place was also known as the VIP Site.Fifty years ago,in December of 1972,Apollo 17 astronauts Eugene Cernan and HarrisonSchmitt spent about 75 hours on the Moon, while colleague Ronald Evansorbited overhead.The crew returned with 110 kilograms of rock and soil samples,more than from any of the other lunar landing sites.Cernan and Schmittare stillthe lastto walk(or drive)on the Moon. Tomorrow's picture: the brightest 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...

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 18 25 Brightest Stars in the Night Sky Image Credit & Copyright: Tragoolchitr Jittasaiyapan Explanation: Do you know the names of some of the brightest stars?It's likely that you do, even though some bright stars have names so old they date back to near the beginning of written language.Many world cultures have their own names for the brightest stars, and it is culturally and historically important to remember them. In the interest of clear global communication, however, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) has begun to designate standardized star names. Featured here in true color are the 25 brightest stars in the night sky, currently as seen by humans, coupled with their IAU-recognized names.Some star names have interesting meanings, including Sirius ("the scorcher" in Latin), Vega ("falling" in Arabic), and Antares ("rival to Mars" in Greek).You are likely even familiar with the name of at least one startoo dim to make this list:Polaris. Almost Hyperspace: Random APOD Generator Tomorrow's picture: interstellar tadpoles <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education|...

APOD: 2022 December 16 - The Geminid 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 16 The Geminid Image Credit &Copyright:Jeff Dai(TWAN) Explanation: Returning frombeyond the Moon, onDecember 11the Orion spacecraft entered Earth's atmosphereat almost 11 kilometers per second.That's half the speed of the grain of dust that created this longfireball meteor when it entered the atmosphere on December 13,near the peak of the annualGeminid meteor shower.As our fair planet makes its yearly pass through the dust trail of mysteriousasteroid 3200 Phaethon,the parallel tracks of all Geminid meteors appearto radiate from a point in the constellation Gemini.But the twin starsof Gemini hide just behind the trees on theleft in this night skyscapefrom the beautiful Blue Moon Valley, Yunnan, China.Reflected in the still waters of the mountain lake, stars ofthe constellation Orion are rising near center.Captured before moonrise,dazzling Marsis still the brightest celestial beacon in the scene. 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...

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 17 Apollo 17 VIP Site Anaglyph Image Credit: Gene Cernan,Apollo 17,NASA;Anaglyph byErik van Meijgaarden Explanation: Get out your red/blue glasses and check out thisstereo scene from Taurus-Littrow valleyon the Moon!The color anaglyph features a detailed 3D view ofApollo 17's Lunar Roverin the foreground -- behind it lies the Lunar Module anddistant lunar hills.Because the world was going to be ableto watchthe Lunar Module'sascent stage liftoff via the rover's TV camera, thisparking place was also known as the VIP Site.Fifty years ago,in December of 1972,Apollo 17 astronauts Eugene Cernan and HarrisonSchmitt spent about 75 hours on the Moon, while colleague Ronald Evansorbited overhead.The crew returned with 110 kilograms of rock and soil samples,more than from any of the other lunar landing sites.Cernan and Schmittare stillthe lastto walk(or drive)on the Moon. Tomorrow's picture: the brightest 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...

APOD: 2022 December 15 - Full Moon, Full Mars 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 15 Full Moon, Full Mars Image Credit &Copyright:Tomas Slovinsky Explanation: On December 8a full Moon and a full Mars were close,both bright and opposite the Sun in planet Earth's sky.In factMars was occulted, passing behind the Moon whenviewed from some locations across Europe and North America. Seen from the city of Kosice in eastern Slovakia,the lunar occultation of Mars happened just before sunrise.The tantalizing spectaclewas recorded in this telescopic timelapsesequence of exposures.It took about an hour for theRed Planet to disappear behind the lunar disk andthen reappear as awarm-hued full Moon,the last full Moon of 2022, sank toward the western horizon.The next lunar occultation of bright planet Mars will be in the new yearon January 3, when the Moon is in a waxing gibbous phase.Lunar occultationsare only ever visible from a fraction of theEarth's surface, though.The January 3 occultationof Mars will be visible from parts of theSouth Atlantic, southern Africa, and the Indian Ocean. Tomorrow's picture: Geminid <| 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. 2022 December 16 The Geminid Image Credit &Copyright:Jeff Dai(TWAN) Explanation: Returning frombeyond the Moon, onDecember 11the Orion spacecraft entered Earth's atmosphereat almost 11 kilometers per second.That's half the speed of the grain of dust that created this longfireball meteor when it entered the atmosphere on December 13,near the peak of the annualGeminid meteor shower.As our fair planet makes its yearly pass through the dust trail of mysteriousasteroid 3200 Phaethon,the parallel tracks of all Geminid meteors appearto radiate from a point in the constellation Gemini.But the twin starsof Gemini hide just behind the trees on theleft in this night skyscapefrom the beautiful Blue Moon Valley, Yunnan, China.Reflected in the still waters of the mountain lake, stars ofthe constellation Orion are rising near center.Captured before moonrise,dazzling Marsis still the brightest celestial beacon in the scene. 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...

APOD: 2022 December 14 - Lunar Dust and Duct Tape 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 14 Lunar Dust and Duct Tape Image Credit: Apollo 17,NASA Explanation: Why is the Moon so dusty?On Earth, rocks are weathered by wind and water, creating soil and sand.On the Moon, the history of constant micrometeorite bombardmenthas blasted away at the rocky surface creating a layer of powderylunar soil orregolith. For the Apollo astronauts and their equipment,the pervasive, fine,gritty dustwas definitely a problem.Fifty years ago, on the lunar surface in December 1972,Apollo 17 astronautsHarrison Schmitt and Eugene Cernan needed torepair one of their rover's fendersin an effort to keep therooster tails of dustaway from themselves and their gear.This picture reveals the wheel and fender of their dust coveredrover along with the ingenious application of spare maps,clamps, and a grey strip of "duct tape". Tomorrow's picture: Full Moon, Full Mars <| 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...

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 15 Full Moon, Full Mars Image Credit &Copyright:Tomas Slovinsky Explanation: On December 8a full Moon and a full Mars were close,both bright and opposite the Sun in planet Earth's sky.In factMars was occulted, passing behind the Moon whenviewed from some locations across Europe and North America. Seen from the city of Kosice in eastern Slovakia,the lunar occultation of Mars happened just before sunrise.The tantalizing spectaclewas recorded in this telescopic timelapsesequence of exposures.It took about an hour for theRed Planet to disappear behind the lunar disk andthen reappear as awarm-hued full Moon,the last full Moon of 2022, sank toward the western horizon.The next lunar occultation of bright planet Mars will be in the new yearon January 3, when the Moon is in a waxing gibbous phase.Lunar occultationsare only ever visible from a fraction of theEarth's surface, though.The January 3 occultationof Mars will be visible from parts of theSouth Atlantic, southern Africa, and the Indian Ocean. Tomorrow's picture: Geminid <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| >...

APOD: 2022 December 13 - An Artful Sky over Lofoten Islands 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 13 An Artful Sky over Lofoten Islands Image Credit & Copyright: Giulio Cobianchi Explanation: Can the night sky be both art and science?If so, perhaps the featured image is an example.The digital panorama was composed of 10 landscape and 10 sky images all taken on the same night, from the same location, and with the same camera. Iconic features in the image have been artfully brightened, and the ground nearby was artfully illuminated.Visible in the foreground is the creative photographer anchoring an amazing view from the rugged Lofoten Islands of Norway, two months ago, by holding a lamp.Far in the distance are three prominent arches: our Milky Way Galaxy on the left, while a scientifically-unusual double-arced aurora is documented on the right.A meteor is highlighted between them.Other notable skylights include, left to right, the Andromeda Galaxy, the planet Jupiter, the star Vega, and the stars that compose the Big Dipper asterism. Tomorrow's picture: open space <| 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. 2022 December 14 Lunar Dust and Duct Tape Image Credit: Apollo 17,NASA Explanation: Why is the Moon so dusty?On Earth, rocks are weathered by wind and water, creating soil and sand.On the Moon, the history of constant micrometeorite bombardmenthas blasted away at the rocky surface creating a layer of powderylunar soil orregolith. For the Apollo astronauts and their equipment,the pervasive, fine,gritty dustwas definitely a problem.Fifty years ago, on the lunar surface in December 1972,Apollo 17 astronautsHarrison Schmitt and Eugene Cernan needed torepair one of their rover's fendersin an effort to keep therooster tails of dustaway from themselves and their gear.This picture reveals the wheel and fender of their dust coveredrover along with the ingenious application of spare maps,clamps, and a grey strip of "duct tape". Tomorrow's picture: Full Moon, Full Mars <| 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 12 - An Unusual Globule in IC 1396 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 12 An Unusual Globule in IC 1396 Image Credit & Copyright: Bernard Miller Explanation: Is there a monster in IC 1396? Known to some as the Elephant's Trunk Nebula, parts of gas and dust clouds of this star formation region may appear to take on foreboding forms, some nearly human. The only real monster here, however, is a bright young star too far from Earth to hurt us. Energetic light from this star is eating away the dust of the dark cometary globule near the top of the featured image. Jets and winds of particles emitted from this star are also pushing away ambient gas and dust. Nearly 3,000 light-years distant, the relatively faint IC 1396 complex covers a much larger region on the sky than shown here, with an apparent width of more than 10 full moons. Tomorrow's picture: art and sky <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)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. 2022 December 13 An Artful Sky over Lofoten Islands Image Credit & Copyright: Giulio Cobianchi Explanation: Can the night sky be both art and science?If so, perhaps the featured image is an example.The digital panorama was composed of 10 landscape and 10 sky images all taken on the same night, from the same location, and with the same camera. Iconic features in the image have been artfully brightened, and the ground nearby was artfully illuminated.Visible in the foreground is the creative photographer anchoring an amazing view from the rugged Lofoten Islands of Norway, two months ago, by holding a lamp.Far in the distance are three prominent arches: our Milky Way Galaxy on the left, while a scientifically-unusual double-arced aurora is documented on the right.A meteor is highlighted between them.Other notable skylights include, left to right, the Andromeda Galaxy, the planet Jupiter, the star Vega, and the stars that compose the Big Dipper asterism. Tomorrow's picture: open space <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors &...

APOD: 2022 December 11 - Io in True Color 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 11 Io in True Color Image Credit: NASA, JPL, Galileo Project Explanation: The strangest moon in the Solar System is bright yellow. The featured picture, an attempt to show how Io would appear in the "true colors" perceptible to the average human eye, was taken in 1999 July by the Galileo spacecraft that orbited Jupiter from 1995 to 2003. Io's colors derive from sulfur and molten silicate rock. The unusual surface of Io is kept very young by its system of active volcanoes. The intense tidal gravity of Jupiter stretches Io and damps wobbles caused by Jupiter's other Galilean moons. The resulting friction greatly heats Io's interior, causing molten rock to explode through the surface. Io's volcanoes are so active that they are effectively turning the whole moon inside out. Some of Io's volcanic lava is so hot it glows in the dark. Artemis 1 Coverage: Orion return and splashdown Tomorrow's picture: interstellar dust monster <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD|...