Astronomy Picture of the Day

Posting NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day as seen at
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

(Unofficial bot)

See also @apod_random for archival pictures, 4 per day.

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Last Notes

2026-03-26 07:43:31 UTC

APOD from 2026-03-26
Black Holes and Neutron Stars: 218 Mergers and Counting
Gravitational waves from merging black holes, first "heard" in 2015, confirm Einstein's prediction. The LIGO-VIRGO-KAGRA grid image shows detections of these events, with binary black hole mergers being most common due to their heavier mass and louder signals.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260326.html#space #astronomy #galaxy
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/116/294/314/065/976/772/original/50fef9b288b51895.jpg

2026-03-25 07:38:30 UTC

APOD from 2026-03-25
The Guardians of Rapa Nui beneath the Milky Way
Rositsa Dimitrova captured the mo'ai statues of Rapa Nui gazing at the Milky Way. The island's isolation provides clear views of the night sky, once used by locals for astronomy. This image highlights the need to preserve dark skies and cultural heritage.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260325.html#space #astronomy #earth
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/116/288/632/078/305/728/original/20c3e82d675d830f.jpg

2026-03-24 07:39:04 UTC

APOD from 2026-03-24
A Gravity Map of #Earth
NASA's GRACE satellites mapped Earth's uneven gravity, revealing lighter areas off India's coast and heavier spots in Chile's mountains. These variations don't always align with surface features, hinting at deep mantle structures' influence on Earth's past and present gravity.
Video at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260324.html#space #astronomy

2026-03-23 07:45:36 UTC

APOD from 2026-03-23
Light Pillars and Orion over Mohe
Light pillars, not auroras, shine above Mohe, China. These columns of light occur when flat ice crystals near the ground reflect man-made lights. The photo also captures Orion, showcasing a natural spectacle blending with urban illumination.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260323.html#space #astronomy #earth
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/116/277/335/447/675/109/original/0959b1df955e2dde.jpg

2026-03-22 07:31:31 UTC

APOD from 2026-03-22
Leaving #Earth
In 2005, MESSENGER captured a time-lapse of Earth rotating as it receded into space. The spacecraft, which later mapped #Mercury (2011-2015), occasionally gazed back at Earth. MESSENGER ended its mission with a deliberate crash on Mercury.
Video at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260322.html#space #astronomy #planet

2026-03-21 07:28:20 UTC

APOD from 2026-03-21
Galaxies in the River: NGC 1300 and NGC 1297
Galaxies NGC 1300 and NGC 1297, over 70 million light-years away in the Eridanus Cluster, are captured in a group photo. The face-on spiral NGC 1300 features a central bar and arms, hinting at a supermassive black hole. Above, the older, spherical NGC 1297 elliptical #galaxy likely formed from mergers.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260321.html#space #astronomy
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/116/265/942/963/901/031/original/02bb07cb8496b925.jpg

2026-03-20 07:35:03 UTC

APOD from 2026-03-20
Spring Equinox at Teide Observatory
Today's equinox at 14:46 UTC marks the start of spring in the north and fall in the south, with nearly equal day and night worldwide. A composite image from Teide Observatory shows over 1,000 shots capturing the Sun's path and star trails around both celestial poles.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260320.html#space #astronomy #planet #earth #volcano
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/116/260/307/472/809/525/original/0518d25ba232632a.jpg

2026-03-19 07:36:47 UTC

APOD from 2026-03-19
Launch Plume: SpaceX Jellyfish
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch created a jellyfish-like plume, illuminated by the rising sun while still dark at the photographer's location. This dawn effect makes the exhaust glow, mimicking a descent as the rocket curves towards space.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260319.html#space #astronomy #earth
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/116/254/651/600/915/969/original/f4852ac4296f7519.jpg

2026-03-10 07:32:17 UTC

APOD from 2026-03-10
Sky Glows over Paranal Observatory
Telescopes use lasers to create artificial stars, aiding in correcting atmospheric distortions for clearer astronomical observations. Adaptive optics techniques enable high-resolution imaging from the ground. The image shows Paranal Observatory's telescopes under a sky with airglow and the Milky Way.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260310.html#space #astronomy #earth #telescope #planets #galaxy
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/116/203/675/366/791/712/original/488b9e7e63be1edf.jpg
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/116/203/675/432/679/412/original/b77af40347ec95e6.jpg

2026-03-09 07:38:11 UTC

APOD from 2026-03-09
The Cranium #Nebula from the #Webb #Telescope
The Exposed Cranium Nebula, resembling a brain and also known as PMR 1, is an enigmatic nebula possibly formed by a white dwarf or a massive Wolf-Rayet star. Captured by the Webb Telescope in #infrared, its future—fading away or supernova—is uncertain.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260309.html#space #astronomy
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/116/198/034/168/873/700/original/6e3dbebe614f2635.jpg

2026-03-08 07:27:05 UTC

APOD from 2026-03-08
The Aurora Tree
A photographer captured a striking visual blend of a tree's dark branches with the bright glow of an aurora in Iceland, creating the illusion of a tree with auroral leaves. This rare Earth-sky spectacle is caused by high-energy electrons from solar activity.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260308.html#space #astronomy #earth
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/116/192/328/428/565/175/original/226af82b44a12425.jpg

2026-03-05 07:33:17 UTC

APOD from 2026-03-05
Total #Lunar #Eclipse over Tsé Bit'a'í
This image sequence captures Earth's shadow during the year's only total lunar eclipse, with a red-tinted #Moon due to atmospheric scattering of sunlight. Shiprock forms a striking foreground, while the event holds cultural significance and unites global observers.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260305.html#space #astronomy
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/116/175/365/381/696/414/original/e27da0ef3447ff57.jpg

2026-03-04 07:31:20 UTC

APOD from 2026-03-04
Shapley 1: An Annular Planetary #Nebula
Shapley 1, a symmetric planetary nebula in Norma, is formed by a Sun-like star shedding its outer layers. Its glowing halo is oxygen-rich, with a binary core of a white dwarf and companion star at the center. Our top-down view explains its ring shape.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260304.html#space #astronomy
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/116/169/695/837/539/274/original/667632cd72437685.jpg

2026-03-03 07:33:02 UTC

APOD from 2026-03-03
Flying over the North Pole of #Mars
ESA's Mars Express 2019 footage reveals a flight over Mars' North Pole. The rusty terrain transitions to the white northern polar cap, surrounded by the dusty North Polar Basin. Captured in Martian spring, CO2 ice evaporates, exposing water-ice. The mission seeks insights into Mars' past climate and life potential.
Video at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260303.html#space #astronomy #planet

2026-03-02 07:36:55 UTC

APOD from 2026-03-02
The Dusty Surroundings of Orion and the Pleiades
Test your night sky knowledge by spotting iconic objects like the Pleiades, Orion #Nebula, and more in a deep image from Granada, Spain. The 16-hour exposure reveals the hidden complexity of our celestial tapestry. See an annotated version for guidance. Tonight: Total #Lunar #Eclipse.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260302.html#space #astronomy
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/116/158/393/242/102/635/original/f0984e06e3ef9404.jpg
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/116/158/393/318/017/703/original/b43a0abb70600d6c.jpg

2026-03-01 07:29:03 UTC

APOD from 2026-03-01
The #Moon During a Total #Lunar #Eclipse
During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon's appearance changes as #Earth's shadow crosses it. A time-lapse of the 2018 eclipse shows this transition, with the edge of the shadow appearing light blue and the center deep red—echoing sky coloration and sunset hues. Tomorrow, a "Blood Moon" may be visible in Eastern Asia, Australia, and North America.
Video at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260301.html#space #astronomy

2026-02-28 07:23:21 UTC

APOD from 2026-02-28
#Lunar Occultation of #Mercury
Telescopic snapshots capture Mercury's rare lunar occultation as it disappears behind the #Moon's edge, visible before and after in the western sky post-sunset. This brief event, lasting 3 minutes near Sallisaw, Oklahoma, highlights a month of bright planetary displays.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260228.html#space #astronomy #planets #planet #earth #eclipse
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/116/147/015/234/000/212/original/2cecd3e7b99c0472.jpg

2026-02-27 07:34:33 UTC

APOD from 2026-02-27
Sharpless 249 and the Jellyfish #Nebula
Captured in a telescopic view, the Jellyfish Nebula (IC 443) is a supernova remnant over 30,000 years old, accompanied by neutron star. Anchored by stars Mu and Eta Geminorum, it's about 5,000 light-years away and spans roughly 300 light-years.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260227.html#space #astronomy #planet #earth
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/116/141/396/775/586/470/original/26d2426f6628dc2c.jpg

2026-02-26 07:37:13 UTC

APOD from 2026-02-26
#Webb and #Hubble: IC 5332
Today's APOD contrasts IC 5332 in mid-infrared by Webb and UV/visible by Hubble. Slide to compare images: Hubble shows spiral arms and dark dust lanes, while Webb unveils a complex, glowing dust structure. Observations link stellar and galactic scales, revealing cosmic evolution.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260226.html#space #astronomy #universe #infrared #galaxy #telescope
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/116/135/745/190/538/618/original/edf54cdb0bf5ef69.jpg

2026-02-25 07:37:36 UTC

APOD from 2026-02-25
The Egg #Nebula from the #Hubble #Telescope
The Egg Nebula, a dying star shedding its layers, is captured by Hubble in visible and #infrared light. Its bright core lights up the surrounding gas and dust, while beams of light escape through holes in the nebula's structure.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260225.html#space #astronomy
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/116/130/085/991/011/130/original/a9280e1475d052d0.jpg

2026-02-24 07:37:00 UTC

APOD from 2026-02-24
#Planet Parade over Sydney Opera House
This week, just after sunset, #Mercury, #Venus, #Saturn, and #Jupiter are visible to the naked eye in a line from the horizon. #Uranus and #Neptune can be seen with a #telescope. Best viewed this weekend globally along the ecliptic plane.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260224.html#space #astronomy #planets #earth
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/116/124/421/612/612/556/original/949983a7260b9163.jpg

2026-02-22 07:30:13 UTC

APOD from 2026-02-22
Shadow of a Martian Robot
Opportunity rover's shadow was captured on #Mars in 2004. Exploring until 2018, it found signs of ancient water and sent stunning images home. Its mission ended after a dust storm, exceeding its 92-day life expectancy by years.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260222.html#space #astronomy #planet
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/116/113/068/443/196/079/original/a4c2cf723dd0d52b.jpg

2026-02-21 07:26:44 UTC

APOD from 2026-02-21
Twilight with #Moon and #Planets
Two days post-annular #eclipse, a crescent Moon with earthshine joins #Venus, #Mercury, and #Saturn in the twilight above Kirazli, Turkiye. Venus glows near the horizon, Mercury stands high above it, and Saturn is left of the Moon's crescent.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260221.html#space #astronomy #lunar #planet #earth
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/116/107/392/419/802/118/original/bc1a89fb68182708.jpg

2026-02-20 07:35:29 UTC

APOD from 2026-02-20
B93: A Dark Interstellar Ghost
Astrophotographer Christian Bertincourt captured Barnard 93 (B93), a dark nebula in the Small Sagittarius Star Cloud. Formed from star remnants, B93's dust obscures distant stars' light. It may birth new stars, transforming from a 'dark ghost' to a stellar nursery.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260220.html#space #astronomy
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/116/101/764/263/243/787/original/b8ad3a80d6886871.jpg

2026-02-19 07:37:02 UTC

APOD from 2026-02-19
IC 2574: Coddington's #Nebula
Dwarf #galaxy IC 2574, part of the M81 group in Ursa Major, exhibits intense star formation in its glowing hydrogen regions. At 12 million light-years away and 50,000 light-years wide, this irregular galaxy's star birth is fueled by stellar winds and supernovae. Discovered in 1898, it's also known as Coddington's Nebula.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260219.html#space #astronomy #universe
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/116/096/108/476/041/039/original/e87d01d83660f68d.jpg

2025-09-12 07:17:27 UTC

APOD from 2025-09-12
#Lunar #Eclipse in Two Hemispheres
Timelapse sequences capture September's total lunar eclipse from northern (China) and southern (Australia) hemispheres, showing the #Moon's path across the sky and perspective shifts due to latitude differences. Lightning reflects in a lake, while #Saturn makes an appearance.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250912.html#space #astronomy #planet #earth
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/115/190/060/930/206/223/original/70d4c4498625a498.jpg

2025-09-10 07:17:44 UTC

APOD from 2025-09-10
The Great Lacerta #Nebula
The Great Lacerta Nebula (Sh2-126), similar in size to the Andromeda #Galaxy, is a faint emission nebula best viewed through long-exposure photography. It spans about three degrees in the constellation Lacerta and glows red from hydrogen excited by star 10 Lacertae, lying around 1,200 light-years away.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250910.html#space #astronomy #telescope #universe
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/115/178/738/162/040/864/original/7f081afd74f6de88.jpg

2025-08-25 07:35:33 UTC

APOD from 2025-08-25
The #Meteor and the Star Cluster
Capturing the Pleiades cluster in al-Ula, Saudi Arabia, an hour-long exposure unexpectedly recorded a bright meteor. Amidst the cluster's blue stars and dust, the meteor's green glow, likely from vaporized metals, added a unique touch to the celestial scene.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250825.html#space #astronomy #earth #moon #universe
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/115/088/210/641/780/213/original/6dba771de1973d3e.jpg

2025-08-01 07:42:17 UTC

APOD from 2025-08-01
Small Dark #Nebula
A dark Bok globule stands out against the Eagle Nebula's glow, 7,000 light-years away. This small cloud of cold gas and dust is a star-forming region within M16, dwarfed by the iconic Pillars of Creation but significant as a nursery for new stars.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250801.html#space #astronomy #hubble
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/114/952/342/162/209/918/original/533411cc127f3b75.jpg

2025-04-07 07:35:33 UTC

APOD from 2025-04-07
NGC 4414: A Flocculent Spiral #Galaxy
#Hubble's image of flocculent galaxy NGC 4414 helps study its mass, including dark matter, essential for understanding galaxy structure and calibrating cosmic distances.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250407.html#space #astronomy #telescope #universe
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/114/295/487/272/764/081/original/4cea4bf26cc139a6.jpg

2025-04-04 07:32:41 UTC

APOD from 2025-04-04
Hickson 44 in Leo
Canadian astronomer Paul Hickson identified 100 compact #galaxy groups, one being Hickson 44 in Leo, 100 million light-years away. This group includes spirals NGC 3190 and NGC 3187, elliptical NGC 3193, and spiral NGC 3185. Their interactions hint at future mergers, a common aspect of galactic evolution.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250404.html#space #astronomy
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/114/278/489/406/662/513/original/db2233419daadd48.jpg

2025-04-02 07:33:12 UTC

APOD from 2025-04-02
#Jupiter and Ring in #Infrared from #Webb
Jupiter's rings, discovered by Voyager 1 in 1979, are formed by meteoroid impacts on small moons like Metis, ejecting dust into orbit. The James Webb Space #Telescope's infrared image captures these rings, Jupiter's clouds, the Great Red Spot, #moon Europa, and its shadow. Some features remain a mystery.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250402.html#space #astronomy
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/114/267/166/857/256/354/original/9238150d7c8479d3.jpg

2025-03-27 07:32:39 UTC

APOD from 2025-03-27
Messier 81
Messier 81, a bright #galaxy similar in size to the Milky Way, is located in Ursa Major. Its detailed image shows a yellow nucleus, blue arms, pink star-forming regions, and unusual dust lanes from a past encounter with M82. It lies 11.8 million light-years away.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250327.html#space #astronomy #planet #earth
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/114/233/190/840/354/759/original/34e923d0dc9c1174.jpg

2025-03-26 07:32:26 UTC

APOD from 2025-03-26
Star Formation in the Pacman #Nebula
The Pacman Nebula (NGC 281), 10,000 light-years away in Cassiopeia, forms stars within its glowing gas. Its shape is defined by dusty columns and Bok globules, shaped by winds from young stars. This image combines narrow-band filters to reveal the nebula's vast, 80+ light-year expanse.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250326.html#space #astronomy
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/114/227/527/759/010/548/original/53cd4637d547c07e.jpg

2025-03-10 07:30:12 UTC

APOD from 2025-03-10
NGC 1499: The California #Nebula
The California Nebula (NGC 1499), resembling the state's outline, glows red from hydrogen recombination and is ionized by Xi Persei. About 1,000 light-years away in the Orion Arm, this 100 light-year-long emission nebula is visible in Perseus near the Pleiades with a wide-field #telescope.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250310.html#space #astronomy #universe
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/114/136/921/962/846/149/original/eb978941a893a113.jpg

2025-03-09 07:26:32 UTC

APOD from 2025-03-09
Cyclones at #Jupiter's North Pole
NASA's Juno mission captured #infrared data of Jupiter's north pole, revealing eight cyclones around a central one. Unlike #Saturn, which has a single cyclone at each pole, Jupiter displays complex polar weather patterns with larger cyclones at the south pole.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250309.html#space #astronomy #planet
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/114/131/244/677/123/058/original/fc2996be4b7a985c.jpg

2025-03-07 07:31:24 UTC

APOD from 2025-03-07
Planetary #Nebula Abell 7
Faint planetary nebula Abell 7, 1,800 light-years away in constellation Lepus, is showcased in a deep image revealing its 8-light-year diameter spherical shape. Captured using narrowband filters, the image highlights complex structures within the nebula that are invisible to the naked eye. The central star, a white dwarf, is about 10 billion years old.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250307.html#space #astronomy #planet #earth
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/114/119/939/401/198/194/original/bffdeae975022257.jpg

2025-02-26 07:31:13 UTC

APOD from 2025-02-26
Einstein Ring Surrounds Nearby #Galaxy Center
NGC 6505's gravity creates an Einstein ring by distorting a distant galaxy's image into a circle, revealing its mass and dark matter content. Captured by ESA's Euclid #telescope in 2023, this rare alignment aids in studying cosmic details.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250226.html#space #astronomy
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/114/068/977/881/647/365/original/63f9fe48195fe28e.jpg

2025-02-24 07:31:26 UTC

APOD from 2025-02-24
Light Pillar over Erupting Etna
Volcanic activity on Italy's Mount Etna created a rare light pillar, captured in a single shot. Freezing temperatures formed ice crystals above the lava flow, reflecting the red glow from the magma, resulting in an upward-extending column of light.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250224.html#space #astronomy #volcano
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/114/057/653/841/188/647/original/ae63bba74daf98ca.jpg

2025-02-23 07:30:05 UTC

APOD from 2025-02-23
#Saturn in #Infrared from Cassini
Saturn's cloud bands and a hexagon larger than #Earth are visible in infrared. Captured by Cassini in 2014, the image highlights the #planet's rings and shadows. The hexagon's origin remains a mystery. Cassini ended its mission with a plunge into Saturn in 2017.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250223.html#space #astronomy
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/114/051/986/825/471/935/original/f030f32bf7591a7e.jpg

2025-02-21 07:30:58 UTC

APOD from 2025-02-21
#Hubble's Andromeda #Galaxy Mosaic
Hubble's largest photomosaic of the Andromeda Galaxy spans nearly six full moons in #Earth's sky. Comprising 600 frames from 2010-2022, it reveals the galaxy's core and spiral arms. At 2.5 million light-years away, M31 is our closest large spiral neighbor, offering insights into galaxy structure and evolution.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250221.html#space #astronomy #telescope #planet
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/114/040/665/523/461/259/original/f552f438e64ce3f0.jpg

2025-02-19 07:30:39 UTC

APOD from 2025-02-19
HH 30: A Star System with #Planets Now Forming
James #Webb, #Hubble, and ALMA reveal new insights into star and planet formation in Herbig-Haro 30. Observations show concentrated large dust grains in a central disk, with vertical particle jets (red) and a dark dust-rich disk across the center. Blue-reflecting dust forms parabolic arcs, with an unexplained tail on the lower left.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250219.html#space #astronomy #telescope #earth
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/114/029/339/422/831/202/original/303d99fd5467d226.jpg
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/114/029/339/488/008/597/original/67d1894118454e7f.jpg

2025-02-17 07:31:10 UTC

APOD from 2025-02-17
SpaceX Rocket Launch Plume over California
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch created a stunning spectacle over California and Arizona, backlit by the setting Sun. It delivered 23 Starlink satellites to orbit, with its plume resembling a space fish. #Venus and a streetlight also appear in the image taken from Phoenix.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250217.html#space #astronomy #earth
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/114/018/017/210/763/389/original/54173649ca89be5e.jpg

2025-02-15 07:28:15 UTC

APOD from 2025-02-15
Parhelia at Abisko
Captured in Sweden, this image shows the Sun flanked by two sun dogs, bright spots caused by ice crystals reflecting sunlight. These parhelia are common in winter and high latitudes, lying on a 22-degree halo around the Sun.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250215.html#space #astronomy #planet #earth
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/114/006/681/217/799/941/original/2c73505129afe141.jpg

2025-02-14 07:29:47 UTC

APOD from 2025-02-14
A Cosmic Rose: NGC 2237 in Monoceros
The Rosette #Nebula (NGC 2237) in Monoceros, 5,000 light-years away, is a stellar nursery shaped by winds and radiation from its central young stars (NGC 2244). Visible with a small #telescope, the nebula spans about 50 light-years.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250214.html#space #astronomy
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/114/001/025/025/410/659/original/e8fa8bfc5a7519a4.jpg

2025-02-12 07:30:06 UTC

APOD from 2025-02-12
#Asteroid Bennu Holds the Building Blocks of Life
NASA's OSIRIS-REx returned samples from asteroid Bennu containing 14 of 20 essential amino acids. This discovery prompts questions about life's origins and why #Earth only has left-handed amino acids, as Bennu had a mix of both types.
Video at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250212.html#space #astronomy

2025-02-11 07:30:03 UTC

APOD from 2025-02-11
The Spider and the Fly
In the constellation Auriga, emission nebulas IC 417 (Spider) and NGC 1931 (Fly), both about 10,000 light-years away, house young star clusters. The deep image from Berkshire UK reveals these cosmic clouds with the Fly spanning 10 light-years.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250211.html#space #astronomy #nebula #universe
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/113/984/039/045/732/667/original/ed33ab9b0d64316d.jpg
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/113/984/039/154/092/969/original/2e04f41cb30ab438.jpg

2025-02-09 07:28:27 UTC

APOD from 2025-02-09
Milky Way over the Australian Pinnacles
Pinnacles in Western Australia foreground this panorama featuring a crescent #Moon amidst zodiacal light and the Milky Way. The 2015 image captures these limestone spires, whose formation is a mystery, under a star-studded sky.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250209.html#space #astronomy #earth #planets #galaxy
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/113/972/708/012/971/566/original/4786e079add77a4d.jpg

2025-01-24 07:29:56 UTC

APOD from 2025-01-24
#Comet G3 ATLAS: a Tail and a #Telescope
Comet C/2024 G3 ATLAS, from the Oort Cloud, was visible to the naked eye after perihelion on Jan 13. Captured at ESO Paranal Observatory, it displayed dust tails and is now disintegrating post-sun approach.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250124.html#space #astronomy #planet #earth
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/113/882/116/955/766/634/original/1caad97144d562b7.jpg

2024-06-29 07:29:29 UTC

APOD from 2024-06-29
A Solstice #Moon
June's Full Moon rose opposite the setting Sun near the solstice, staying low in northern skies. Captured from Bursa, Turkey, it coincided with a #lunar standstill—its southernmost rise and set due to an 18.6-year orbital cycle.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240629.html#space #astronomy
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/112/698/691/979/266/602/original/23b1710a09bf78ec.jpg

2024-03-27 07:26:18 UTC

APOD from 2024-03-27
The Coma Cluster of Galaxies
The Coma Cluster, dense with thousands of galaxies each containing billions of stars, is featured. Nearby yet vast, its light takes millions of years to cross. Dominated by ellipticals, unlike the spirals outside clusters, its X-ray nature remains under study.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240327.html#space #astronomy #galaxy
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/112/166/422/620/376/747/original/73d46f4fd05281f3.jpg

2023-09-30 07:23:58 UTC

APOD from 2023-09-30
Title: A Harvest #Moon over Tuscany
Copyright/credit: Antonio Tartarini
See explanation and HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap230930.html
#space #astronomy
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/111/152/859/743/054/495/original/4d776542e432e215.jpg