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 September 29 DART Asteroid Impact from Space Image Credit: ASI /NASA Explanation: Fifteen daysbefore impact,the DART spacecraft deployed a small companion satelliteto document its historicplanetary defense technologydemonstration.Provided by the Italian Space Agency, the Light Italian CubeSat forImaging Asteroids, aka LICIACube,recorded this image of the event'saftermath.A cloud of ejecta is seen near the right edge of the framecaptured only minutesfollowing DART's impact withtarget asteroid Dimorphos while LICIACube was about 80kilometers away.Presently about 11 million kilometers from Earth, 160 meter diameter Dimorphos is a moonlet orbiting 780 meter diameterasteroid Didymos.Didymos is seen off center in the LICIACube image.Over the coming weeks, ground-based telescopic observations will look for asmall change in Dimorphos' orbitaround Didymostoevaluatehow effectively the DART impact deflected its target. Tomorrow's picture: 24 sunrises<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Phillip NewmanSpecific rights apply.NASA WebPrivacy Policy and Important NoticesA service of:ASD atNASA /GSFC,NASA ScienceActivation& Michigan Tech. U.

APOD: 2022 September 27 - DART: Impact on Asteroid Dimorphos 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. DART: Impact on Asteroid Dimorphos Video Credit: NASA, JHUAPL, DART Explanation: Could humanity deflect an asteroid headed for Earth?Yes. Deadly impacts from large asteroids have happened before in Earth's past, sometimes causing mass extinctions of life.To help protect our Earth from some potential future impacts, NASA tested a new planetary defense mechanism yesterday by crashing the robotic Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft into Dimorphos, a small asteroid spanning about 170-meters across.As shown in the featured video, the impact was a success.Ideally, if impacted early enough, even the kick from a small spacecraft can deflect a large asteroid enough to miss the Earth. In the video, DART is seen in a time-lapse video first passing larger Didymos, on the left, and then approaching the smaller Dimorphos.Although the video ends abruptly with DART's crash, observations monitoring the changed orbit of Dimorphos -- from spacecraft and telescopes around the world -- have just begun. Tomorrow's picture: furious sky <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD|...

Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2022 September 28 A Furious Sky over Mount Shasta Image Credit & Copyright: Ralf Rohner Explanation: Is the sky angry with Mount Shasta?According to some ancient legends, the spirits of above and below worlds fight there, sometimes quite actively during eruptions of this enormous volcano in California, USA. Such drama can well be imagined in this deep sky image taken in late June.Evident above the snow-covered peak is the central band of our Milky Way Galaxy, on the left, and a picturesque sky toward the modern constellations of Scorpius and Ophiuchus, above and to the right. The bright orange star Antares and the colorful rho Ophiuchi cloud complex are visible just to the right of Mount Shasta, while the red emission nebula surrounding the star zeta Ophiuchi appears on the top right. The static earth image in the featured composite was taken during the blue hour, while a two-panel panorama tracking the background sky was taken later that night with the same camera and from the same location.Within a few million years,...

APOD: 2022 September 26 - All the Water on Planet Earth 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 September 26 All the Water on Planet Earth Illustration Credit: Jack Cook, Adam Nieman, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution;Data source: Igor Shiklomanov Explanation: How much of planet Earth is made of water?Very little, actually.Althoughoceans of water cover about 70 percent of Earth's surface, these oceans areshallow compared to the Earth's radius.The featured illustration shows what would happen if all ofthe water on or near the surface of the Earth were bunched up into a ball.The radius of this ball would be only about 700 kilometers, less than half the radius of theEarth's Moon, but slightly larger than Saturn's moonRhea which, like many moons in our outer Solar System, is mostly water ice.The next smallest ball depicts all of Earth's liquid fresh water, while the tiniest ball shows the volume of all of Earth's fresh-water lakes and rivers.How any of this water came to be onthe Earth and whether any significant amount istrapped farbeneath Earth's surface remain topics of research. Tomorrow's picture: DARTing an asteroid <| Archive|...

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. DART: Impact on Asteroid Dimorphos Video Credit: NASA, JHUAPL, DART Explanation: Could humanity deflect an asteroid headed for Earth?Yes. Deadly impacts from large asteroids have happened before in Earth's past, sometimes causing mass extinctions of life.To help protect our Earth from some potential future impacts, NASA tested a new planetary defense mechanism yesterday by crashing the robotic Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft into Dimorphos, a small asteroid spanning about 170-meters across.As shown in the featured video, the impact was a success.Ideally, if impacted early enough, even the kick from a small spacecraft can deflect a large asteroid enough to miss the Earth. In the video, DART is seen in a time-lapse video first passing larger Didymos, on the left, and then approaching the smaller Dimorphos.Although the video ends abruptly with DART's crash, observations monitoring the changed orbit of Dimorphos -- from spacecraft and telescopes around the world -- have just begun. Tomorrow's picture: furious sky <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors:...

APOD: 2022 September 25 - The Fairy of Eagle Nebula Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2022 September 25 The Fairy of Eagle Nebula Image Credit: Image Credit: NASA, ESA, The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA) Explanation: The dust sculptures of the Eagle Nebula are evaporating. As powerful starlight whittles away thesecool cosmic mountains, thestatuesque pillars that remainmight be imagined as mythical beasts. Featured here is one of several strikingdust pillars of theEagle Nebulathat might be described as a gigantic alienfairy. This fairy, however, is tenlight years tall and spews radiation much hotter thancommon fire.The greater Eagle Nebula, M16,is actually a giant evaporating shell of gas anddust inside of which is a growingcavity filled with a spectacular stellar nursery currently forming anopen cluster of stars. This great pillar, which is about 7,000 light years away, will likely evaporate away in about 100,000 years. The featured image is in scientifically re-assigned colors andwas taken by the Earth-orbiting Hubble Space Telescope. Tomorrow's picture: earth without water <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell...

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 September 26 All the Water on Planet Earth Illustration Credit: Jack Cook, Adam Nieman, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution;Data source: Igor Shiklomanov Explanation: How much of planet Earth is made of water?Very little, actually.Althoughoceans of water cover about 70 percent of Earth's surface, these oceans areshallow compared to the Earth's radius.The featured illustration shows what would happen if all ofthe water on or near the surface of the Earth were bunched up into a ball.The radius of this ball would be only about 700 kilometers, less than half the radius of theEarth's Moon, but slightly larger than Saturn's moonRhea which, like many moons in our outer Solar System, is mostly water ice.The next smallest ball depicts all of Earth's liquid fresh water, while the tiniest ball shows the volume of all of Earth's fresh-water lakes and rivers.How any of this water came to be onthe Earth and whether any significant amount istrapped farbeneath Earth's surface remain topics of research. Tomorrow's picture: furious sky <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education|...

APOD: 2022 September 24 - September Sunrise Shadows 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 September 24 September Sunrise Shadows Image Credit &Copyright: Donato Lioce Explanation: The defining astronomical momentfor this September's equinox was onFriday, September 23, 2022 at 01:03 UTC,when the Sun crossed the celestial equator moving south in itsyearly journey through planet Earth's sky.That marked the beginning offall for our fair planetin the northern hemisphere and spring in the southern hemisphere,when day and night are nearly equal around the globe. Of course, if you celebrate theastronomical change of seasonsby watching a sunrise you can also look for crepuscular rays.The shadows cast by clouds can have a dramatic appearance in thetwilight sky during any sunrise or sunset.Due to perspective,the parallel shadows will seem to point back to the rising Sunand a placedue east on your horizon near the equinox date.Taken on September 15, this sunrise sea and skyscape capturedcrepuscular rays in the sky and wateryspecular reflectionsfrom the Mediterranean coast near the village of Petacciato, Italy. Tomorrow's picture: shadows of cosmic dust<| 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 September 25 The Fairy of Eagle Nebula Image Credit: Image Credit: NASA, ESA, The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA) Explanation: The dust sculptures of the Eagle Nebula are evaporating. As powerful starlight whittles away thesecool cosmic mountains, thestatuesque pillars that remainmight be imagined as mythical beasts. Featured here is one of several strikingdust pillars of theEagle Nebulathat might be described as a gigantic alienfairy. This fairy, however, is tenlight years tall and spews radiation much hotter thancommon fire.The greater Eagle Nebula, M16,is actually a giant evaporating shell of gas anddust inside of which is a growingcavity filled with a spectacular stellar nursery currently forming anopen cluster of stars. This great pillar, which is about 7,000 light years away, will likely evaporate away in about 100,000 years. The featured image is in scientifically re-assigned colors andwas taken by the Earth-orbiting Hubble Space Telescope. Tomorrow's picture: earth without water <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Phillip NewmanSpecific rights...

APOD: 2022 September 23 - Ringed Ice Giant Neptune 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 September 23 Ringed Ice Giant Neptune Image Credit: NASA,ESA,CSA,STScI,NIRCam Explanation: Ringed, ice giant Neptunelies near the center of this sharpnear-infrared image from theJames Webb Space Telescope.The dim and distant world is thefarthest planet from the Sun,about 30 times farther away than planet Earth.But in the stunning Webb view the planet's dark and ghostly appearanceis due to atmospheric methane that absorbs infrared light.High altitude clouds that reach above most of Neptune's absorbing methaneeasily stand out in the image though.Coated with frozen nitrogen, Neptune's largest moon Triton isbrighter than Neptune in reflected sunlight and is seen at upper leftsporting the Webb's characteristicdiffraction spikes.Including Triton, seven of Neptune's 14 known moons can beidentifiedin the field of view.Neptune's faint ringsare striking in this new space-based planetary portrait.Details of the complex ring system are seen here for the firsttime since Neptune was visited by theVoyager 2 spacecraft in August 1989. Tomorrow's picture: shadows in the sky<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert...

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 September 24 September Sunrise Shadows Image Credit &Copyright: Donato Lioce Explanation: The defining astronomical momentfor this September's equinox was onFriday, September 23, 2022 at 01:03 UTC,when the Sun crossed the celestial equator moving south in itsyearly journey through planet Earth's sky.That marked the beginning offall for our fair planetin the northern hemisphere and spring in the southern hemisphere,when day and night are nearly equal around the globe. Of course, if you celebrate theastronomical change of seasonsby watching a sunrise you can also look for crepuscular rays.The shadows cast by clouds can have a dramatic appearance in thetwilight sky during any sunrise or sunset.Due to perspective,the parallel shadows will seem to point back to the rising Sunand a placedue east on your horizon near the equinox date.Taken on September 15, this sunrise sea and skyscape capturedcrepuscular rays in the sky and wateryspecular reflectionsfrom the Mediterranean coast near the village of Petacciato, Italy. Tomorrow's picture: shadows of cosmic dust<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors &...

APOD: 2022 September 22 - NGC 7331 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 September 22 NGC 7331 Close Up Image Credit & License: ESA/Hubble & NASA/D. Milisavljevic (Purdue University) Explanation: Big, beautiful spiral galaxyNGC 7331is often touted as an analog to our ownMilky Way.About 50 million light-years distant in the northern constellationPegasus,NGC 7331 was recognized early on asa spiralnebula and is actually one of the brightergalaxies not included in Charles Messier'sfamous18th century catalog.Since the galaxy's diskis inclined to our line-of-sight, longtelescopic exposures often result in an image that evokes a strongsense of depth.This Hubble Space Telescope close-up spans some 40,000 light-years.The galaxy's magnificent spiralarms feature dark obscuring dust lanes, bright bluish clusters of massiveyoung stars, and the telltale reddish glow of active star forming regions.The bright yellowish central regions harbor populations of older,cooler stars.Like the Milky Way,a supermassive black hole lies at the core of spiral galaxy NGC 7331. Tomorrow's picture: ringed planet Neptune<| 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. 2022 September 23 Ringed Ice Giant Neptune Image Credit: NASA,ESA,CSA,STScI,NIRCam Explanation: Ringed, ice giant Neptunelies near the center of this sharpnear-infrared image from theJames Webb Space Telescope.The dim and distant world is thefarthest planet from the Sun,about 30 times farther away than planet Earth.But in the stunning Webb view the planet's dark and ghostly appearanceis due to atmospheric methane that absorbs infrared light.High altitude clouds that reach above most of Neptune's absorbing methaneeasily stand out in the image though.Coated with frozen nitrogen, Neptune's largest moon Triton isbrighter than Neptune in reflected sunlight and is seen at upper leftsporting the Webb's characteristicdiffraction spikes.Including Triton, seven of Neptune's 14 known moons can beidentifiedin the field of view.Neptune's faint ringsare striking in this new space-based planetary portrait.Details of the complex ring system are seen here for the firsttime since Neptune was visited by theVoyager 2 spacecraft in August 1989. Tomorrow's picture: shadows in the sky<| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA...

APOD: 2022 September 21 - The Horsehead Nebula in Infrared 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 September 21 The Horsehead Nebula in Infrared from Hubble Image Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble;Processing: Alexandra Nachman Explanation: While drifting through the cosmos, a magnificent interstellar dust cloud became sculpted by stellar winds and radiation to assume a recognizable shape. Fittingly named the Horsehead Nebula, it is embedded in the vast and complex Orion Nebula (M42). A potentially rewarding but difficult object to view personally with a small telescope, the featured gorgeously detailed image was taken in infrared light by the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope. The dark molecular cloud, roughly 1,500 light years distant, is cataloged as Barnard 33 and is seen above primarily because it is backlit by the nearby massive star Sigma Orionis.The Horsehead Nebula will slowly shift its apparent shape over the next few million years and will eventually be destroyed by high energy starlight. Your Sky Surprise: What picture did APOD feature on your birthday? (post 1995) Tomorrow's picture: winged spiral <| 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 September 22 NGC 7331 Close Up Image Credit & License: ESA/Hubble & NASA/D. Milisavljevic (Purdue University) Explanation: Big, beautiful spiral galaxyNGC 7331is often touted as an analog to our ownMilky Way.About 50 million light-years distant in the northern constellationPegasus,NGC 7331 was recognized early on asa spiralnebula and is actually one of the brightergalaxies not included in Charles Messier'sfamous18th century catalog.Since the galaxy's diskis inclined to our line-of-sight, longtelescopic exposures often result in an image that evokes a strongsense of depth.This Hubble Space Telescope close-up spans some 40,000 light-years.The galaxy's magnificent spiralarms feature dark obscuring dust lanes, bright bluish clusters of massiveyoung stars, and the telltale reddish glow of active star forming regions.The bright yellowish central regions harbor populations of older,cooler stars.Like the Milky Way,a supermassive black hole lies at the core of spiral galaxy NGC 7331. Tomorrow's picture: ringed planet Neptune<| 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...

APOD: 2022 September 20 - Star Forming Region NGC 3582 without Stars 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 September 20 Star Forming Region NGC 3582 without Stars Image Credit & Copyright: Chris Willocks Explanation: What's happening in the Statue of Liberty nebula? Bright stars and interesting molecules are forming and being liberated.Thecomplexnebula resides in the star forming region called RCW 57, and besides the iconic monument, to some looks like a flying superhero or aweeping angel. By digitally removing the stars, this re-assigned color image showcases dense knots of dark interstellar dust, fields of glowing hydrogen gas ionized by these stars, and great loops of gas expelled by dying stars.A detailed study of NGC 3576, also known as NGC 3582 and NGC 3584, uncovered at least 33 massive stars in the end stages of formation, and the clear presence of the complex carbon molecules known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).PAHs are thought to be created in the cooling gas of star forming regions, and their development in the Sun's formation nebula five billion years ago may have been an important step in...

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 September 21 The Horsehead Nebula in Infrared from Hubble Image Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble;Processing: Alexandra Nachman Explanation: While drifting through the cosmos, a magnificent interstellar dust cloud became sculpted by stellar winds and radiation to assume a recognizable shape. Fittingly named the Horsehead Nebula, it is embedded in the vast and complex Orion Nebula (M42). A potentially rewarding but difficult object to view personally with a small telescope, the featured gorgeously detailed image was taken in infrared light by the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope. The dark molecular cloud, roughly 1,500 light years distant, is cataloged as Barnard 33 and is seen above primarily because it is backlit by the nearby massive star Sigma Orionis.The Horsehead Nebula will slowly shift its apparent shape over the next few million years and will eventually be destroyed by high energy starlight. Your Sky Surprise: What picture did APOD feature on your birthday? (post 1995) Tomorrow's picture: open space <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert...

APOD: 2022 September 19 - Star Trails and Lightning over the Pyrenees 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 September 19 Star Trails and Lightning over the Pyrenees Image Credit & Copyright: Marc Sellés Llimós Explanation: The beauty in this image comes in layers.On the bottom layer is the picturesque village of Manlleu in Barcelona, Spain. The six-minute exposure makes car lights into streaks.The next layer is a mountain -- Serra de Bellmunt -- of Europe's famous Pyrenees.Next up is a tremendous lightning storm emanating from a classically-shaped anvil cloud.The long exposure allowed for the capture of many intricate lightning bolts. Finally, at the top and furthest in the distance are stars. Here, the multi-minute exposure made stars into trails. The trailing effect is caused by the rotation of the Earth, and the curvature of the trails indicates their distance from the north spin pole of the Earth above.Taken after sunset in early June, the lightning storm soon moved off. The stars, though, will continue to circle the pole for as long as the Earth spins -- surely billions of years into 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. 2022 September 20 Star Forming Region NGC 3582 without Stars Image Credit & Copyright: Chris Willocks Explanation: What's happening in the Statue of Liberty nebula? Bright stars and interesting molecules are forming and being liberated.Thecomplexnebula resides in the star forming region called RCW 57, and besides the iconic monument, to some looks like a flying superhero or aweeping angel. By digitally removing the stars, this re-assigned color image showcases dense knots of dark interstellar dust, fields of glowing hydrogen gas ionized by these stars, and great loops of gas expelled by dying stars.A detailed study of NGC 3576, also known as NGC 3582 and NGC 3584, uncovered at least 33 massive stars in the end stages of formation, and the clear presence of the complex carbon molecules known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).PAHs are thought to be created in the cooling gas of star forming regions, and their development in the Sun's formation nebula five billion years ago may have been an important step in the development of life on Earth. Your...

APOD: 2022 September 18 - Analemma over the Callanish Stones 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 September 18 Analemma over the Callanish Stones Image Credit & Copyright: Giuseppe Petricca Explanation: If you went outside at the same time every day and took a picture that included the Sun, how would the Sun's position change? A more visual answer to that question is an analemma, a composite image taken from the same spot at the same time over the course of a year. The featured analemma was composed from images taken every few days at noon near the village of Callanish in the Outer Hebrides in Scotland, UK. In the foreground are the Callanish Stones, a stone circle built around 2700 BC during humanity's Bronze Age. It is not known if the placement of the Callanish Stones has or had astronomical significance. The ultimate causes for the figure-8 shape of this and all analemmas are the tilt of the Earth axis and the ellipticity of the Earth's orbit around the Sun. At the solstices, the Sun will appear at the top or bottom...