Astronomy Picture of the Day

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

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See also [@apod_random](https://mastodon.bot/@apod_random ) for archival pictures, 4 per day.

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2026-03-16 07:47:37 GMT

APOD from 2026-03-16
NGC 1566: The Spanish Dancer #Galaxy
NGC 1566, a grand design spiral galaxy in Dorado, is 40 million light-years away and known for its beauty. It features bright star clusters, red nebulas, and dark dust lanes. Its active center suggests a supermassive black hole, making it a notable Seyfert galaxy.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260316.html#space #astronomy #universe #hubble #telescope
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/116/237/707/235/714/803/original/d4a0ffbb645322d5.jpg

2026-03-08 07:27:05 GMT

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

2026-01-27 07:23:59 GMT

APOD from 2026-01-27
Orion's Treasures over Snowy Mountains
Orion's stars and nebulas dazzle above the Tatra Mountains in a photo from southern Poland. The Great Orion #Nebula, Barnard's Loop, Rosette Nebula, and Witch Head Nebula are visible alongside the orange star Betelgeuse.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260127.html#space #astronomy #earth #galaxy
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/115/965/823/895/229/854/original/32189da842591d82.jpg
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/115/965/824/029/742/597/original/0807e6dfdb6c221f.jpg

2026-01-14 07:22:25 GMT

APOD from 2026-01-14
M51: The Whirlpool #Galaxy
The Whirlpool Galaxy (M51), 30 million light-years away and 60,000 light-years wide, is a bright spiral galaxy visible with binoculars in Canes Venatici. This image combines 58 hours of color data from a Lijiang #telescope, highlighting its structure influenced by gravitational interactions with a nearby galaxy.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260114.html#space #astronomy
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/115/892/207/554/803/042/original/92796d1241466e10.jpg

2025-12-27 07:17:43 GMT

APOD from 2025-12-27
Apollo 17's Moonship
Digitally enhanced photo shows Apollo 17's #lunar module Challenger in orbit, featuring thrusters, engine bell, hatch, and radar antenna. Gene Cernan is visible through the window. The ascent stage crashed on the #Moon after safely returning astronauts to #Earth in 1972.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap251227.html#space #astronomy #planet
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/115/790/267/491/117/493/original/135ba685c6afd242.jpg

2025-12-26 07:19:50 GMT

APOD from 2025-12-26
3I/ATLAS Flyby
Interstellar #comet 3I/ATLAS passed #Earth at 1.8 AU on Dec 19. Captured in Leo on Dec 15, its colors—yellow dust tail, blue ion tail, green coma—are enhanced in the image. Exiting the Solar System, it speeds away at 64 km/s on a hyperbolic path.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap251226.html#space #astronomy #planet
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/115/784/613/860/943/827/original/2015e88765c1916d.jpg

2025-08-12 07:36:12 GMT

APOD from 2025-08-12
Perseids from Perseus
Tonight's Perseids #meteor shower, with meteors radiating from Perseus, originates from #Comet Swift-Tuttle. A composite image captures over 100 meteors above Poland's Bieszczady Mountains. The bright #moon may affect visibility this year.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250812.html#space #astronomy #earth
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/115/014/603/515/619/744/original/c36b7e3d84f836f9.jpg
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/115/014/603/616/355/474/original/e1309df4f995f84d.jpg

2025-08-02 07:35:05 GMT

APOD from 2025-08-02
Fireflies, Meteors, and Milky Way
A dreamy timelapse captures firefly flashes and Delta Aquariid meteors streaking under the Milky Way in Mexico's Sierra de Órganos. The active #meteor shower, peaking in early August, coincides with the Perseids. Delta Aquariids originate from Aquarius, while Perseids trace back to Perseus.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250802.html#space #astronomy
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/114/957/976/071/822/489/original/88f6338cc3b7296c.jpg

2025-07-02 07:35:32 GMT

APOD from 2025-07-02
Milky Way Through Otago Spires
Captured in Otago, New Zealand, this image shows the Milky Way's core rising perfectly between two rock spires. This rare alignment required precise timing, as our #galaxy's appearance changes with #Earth's rotation and orbit, revealing different stars at various times.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250702.html#space #astronomy
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/114/782/446/314/148/759/original/1eb2d930445fb9c8.jpg

2025-06-29 07:33:40 GMT

APOD from 2025-06-29
Dark Sand Cascades on #Mars
Dark streaks on Martian dunes, mistaken for trees, are actually cascades of sand revealed by melting frost. Captured by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in 2008 near Mars' North Pole, these features form as CO2 ice thaws in spring, causing sand to slide down dunes.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250629.html#space #astronomy
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/114/765/452/175/140/488/original/efd7aed2adbb4084.jpg

2025-06-25 07:35:53 GMT

APOD from 2025-06-25
Rubin's First Look: A Sagittarius Skyscape
Rubin Observatory's First Look captures the Sagittarius starfields, featuring the Lagoon #Nebula (M8) and Trifid Nebula (M20). M8 is a vast star-forming region, while M20's red glow and blue hues are divided by dust lanes. Image data was collected over four nights.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250625.html#space #astronomy
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/114/742/811/763/748/948/original/4d82274c345cd69b.png

2025-06-21 07:32:56 GMT

APOD from 2025-06-21
Two Worlds, Two Analemmas
This image shows #Earth's figure-8 analemma from Dec 2011 to Dec 2012 and Mars' teardrop-shaped analemma from Jul 2006 to Jun 2008. Analemmas vary by a #planet's orbital eccentricity and axial tilt, with solstices at their extremes.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250621.html#space #astronomy #mars
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/114/720/150/273/529/137/original/e91f5df9da24ffc1.jpg

2025-04-29 07:35:10 GMT

APOD from 2025-04-29
#Saturn's Rings Appear to Disappear
In 1610, Galileo mistook Saturn's rings for "ears" using a new #telescope. By 1612, the rings vanished from view due to #Earth's perspective. This cycle repeats every 15 years with Saturn's seasonal tilt. A photo comparison from Brazil illustrates this: clear rings in 2020, barely visible in 2025.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250429.html#space #astronomy
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/114/420/057/142/333/188/original/5d02e64591165439.jpg

2025-04-25 07:33:24 GMT

APOD from 2025-04-25
#Asteroid Donaldjohanson
Lucy spacecraft snapped a close-up of asteroid 52246 Donaldjohanson, an 8 km long main belt asteroid, from 1100 km away. Named after the discoverer of the Lucy fossil, this contact binary formed from a gentle collision. Lucy will visit #Jupiter's Trojans after touring the main belt.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250425.html#space #astronomy
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/114/397/400/971/552/998/original/0734222f45f2c287.png

2025-04-17 07:34:24 GMT

APOD from 2025-04-17
Virgo Cluster Galaxies
This telescopic view captures the Virgo Cluster, 50 million light-years away, featuring bright elliptical galaxies M87, M86, and M84. M87 dominates with its supermassive black hole, first imaged by #Earth's Event Horizon #Telescope. Markarian's Chain is visible, including the interacting galaxies NGC 4438 and NGC 4435.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250417.html#space #astronomy #galaxy #planet
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/114/352/106/400/944/328/original/5be0a9fc57539141.jpg

2025-04-12 07:30:48 GMT

APOD from 2025-04-12
#Moon Near the Edge
The Moon is visible during the day, appearing pale against bright skies. Best seen when waxing or waning, it's lit by reflected sunlight. A daytime Moon was photographed near an NYC observation deck on March 12, showcasing its urban visibility.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250412.html#space #astronomy #lunar #planet
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/114/323/780/527/900/801/original/0c56bd14b97fd70d.jpg

2025-04-06 07:30:17 GMT

APOD from 2025-04-06
Moonquakes Surprisingly Common
Apollo seismometer data from 1972-77 detected 62 moonquakes near the surface, some strong enough to shift furniture. Unlike #Earth's quakes, the #moon's stiff rock vibrates longer. Causes may include Earth's tidal gravity and heat. Future #lunar homes must be quake-resistant. Buzz Aldrin is shown with a seismometer in an image.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250406.html#space #astronomy #universe
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/114/289/804/271/601/131/original/9266d3ba0009dcf5.jpg

2025-04-02 07:33:12 GMT

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

2025-03-19 07:33:18 GMT

APOD from 2025-03-19
Blue Ghost's Diamond Ring
During the March 14 total #lunar #eclipse, the Blue Ghost lander on the #Moon captured #Earth's silhouette with a solar eclipse diamond ring effect at sunrise, showcasing Earth's atmospheric glow but hiding the inner solar corona due to Earth's larger apparent size.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250319.html#space #astronomy #planet
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/114/187/894/757/876/905/original/4cef4183c6040b89.jpg

2025-03-17 07:33:48 GMT

APOD from 2025-03-17
Thor's Helmet
NGC 2359, known as Thor's Helmet, is a #nebula resembling a cosmic bubble 30 light-years wide, created by winds from its central Wolf-Rayet star. This pre-supernova giant lies 15,000 light-years away and may explode within a few thousand years.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250317.html#space #astronomy
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/114/176/571/914/213/094/original/ea2dc169e1bb1e97.jpg

2025-01-26 07:28:26 GMT

APOD from 2025-01-26
The Many Tails of #Comet G3 ATLAS
Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) displayed several tails, visible without aid post-sunset from the southern hemisphere. Captured at Paranal Observatory, Chile, its multiple tails may stem from a rotating nucleus and solar wind effects. The comet's nucleus recently fragmented and is expected to fade soon.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250126.html#space #astronomy #earth
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/113/893/435/391/697/929/original/a332f9921cb1f710.jpg

2025-01-15 07:29:45 GMT

APOD from 2025-01-15
Wolf #Moon Engulfs #Mars
Yesterday, the full Wolf Moon occulted Mars, visible from parts of North America and western Africa. This rare event occurred as Mars neared opposition, at its brightest. The next Moon-Mars occultation is expected on February 9.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250115.html#space #astronomy #earth #planet #planets
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/113/831/155/070/672/723/original/ef268571ea4ed96c.jpg

2025-01-04 07:29:14 GMT

APOD from 2025-01-04
Welcome to Perihelion
Today, #Earth reaches perihelion at 13:28 UTC, its closest point to the Sun at 147 million km. Seasons aren't due to this distance but Earth's tilt. Coincidentally, it's near the December solstice and Parker Solar Probe's record close approach to the Sun on Dec 24, 2024.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250104.html#space #astronomy #planet
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/113/768/867/540/054/103/original/0e4d66cc60ec9167.jpg

2025-01-02 07:30:04 GMT

APOD from 2025-01-02
Solar Analemma 2024
2024 images show the Sun's analemma as a figure-eight in Kayseri, Turkiye, taken at 1pm on clear days. Solstices mark the top/bottom; equinoxes are midpoints on the curve. Mount Erciyes features in the background.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250102.html#space #astronomy #planet #earth #volcano
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/113/757/546/648/268/695/original/2adfdfa816dcae0e.jpg

2024-12-13 07:33:07 GMT

APOD from 2024-12-13
M51: Tidal Streams and H-alpha Cliffs
M51, also known as the Whirlpool #Galaxy (NGC 5194), interacts with its companion NGC 5195, 31 million light-years away in Canes Venatici. This deep image reveals stunning details, colors, and faint tidal streams, including a vast reddish cloud of ionized hydrogen gas. Captured with over 3 weeks of exposure by Earth-based telescopes.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241213.html#space #astronomy #nebula #planet #earth #meteor
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/113/644/312/518/558/305/original/e7a15f6b60d621c1.jpg

2024-12-10 07:35:17 GMT

APOD from 2024-12-10
The Great #Meteor Storm of 1833
In 1833, the Great Meteor Storm dazzled with ~100,000 meteors, especially over eastern North America. A young Lincoln witnessed it as meteors blazed from Leo. It was caused by #Earth passing through #Comet Tempel-Tuttle's debris, related to today's Leonid shower. An upcoming Geminid shower may offer a glimpse of such a spectacle.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241210.html#space #astronomy #universe
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/113/627/334/135/656/123/original/d37289f3e50bae03.jpg

2024-12-03 07:34:31 GMT

APOD from 2024-12-03
Ice Clouds over a Red #Planet
Standing on #Mars, you'd see an orange landscape with rocks and a dusty sky. NASA's Perseverance captured such a scene: a blue-tinted sunset and high, oddly-shaped water clouds. Martian orange comes from rusted iron dust, while the blue sunset is due to scattered light.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241203.html#space #astronomy #earth
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/113/587/694/718/488/819/original/df91fc8c196e1b32.jpg

2024-11-06 07:30:07 GMT

APOD from 2024-11-06
#Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas over the Dolomites
Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas, after a spectacular show near the Sun, is returning to the outer Solar System. A photo from mid-October highlights its anti-tail, with tails pointing away from the Sun and the anti-tail directed downwards. The backdrop features Tai di Cadore village and the Dolomites. Meanwhile, Comet C/2024 S1 (ATLAS) disintegrated on its solar approach.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241106.html#space #astronomy
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/113/434/795/340/274/270/original/25add4e861977559.jpg

2024-10-21 07:31:54 GMT

APOD from 2024-10-21
#Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS over California
Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, with its bright and anti-tails, dazzled over California. Captured near peak brilliance, it outshone stars at magnitude -4.9 but was hard to spot near the Sun. Its fame may be challenged by incoming comet C/2024 S1 (ATLAS).
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241021.html#space #astronomy
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/113/344/204/601/084/236/original/d5986b537426d177.jpg

2024-10-03 07:31:18 GMT

APOD from 2024-10-03
#Eclipse at Sunrise
On October 2, 2024, an annular solar eclipse began in the Pacific, with a "ring of fire" visible along a narrow path and a partial eclipse seen over a broader area. This image captures the event near sunrise from Mauna Kea, Hawaii.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241003.html#space #astronomy #moon #planet #earth
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/113/242/281/289/984/210/original/508da0f1f605e5f2.jpg

2024-08-16 07:28:47 GMT

APOD from 2024-08-16
#Meteor Borealis
A camera captured a bright Perseid meteor crossing the Big Dipper, with aurora borealis in the background, near Halifax, Nova Scotia. The scene was amplified by geomagnetic storms from solar flares during the Perseid meteor shower peak.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240816.html#space #astronomy #planet #earth
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/112/970/480/397/063/013/original/77f1e730d30c8976.jpg

2024-08-05 07:28:55 GMT

APOD from 2024-08-05
Milky Way Over Tunisia
A composite image captures the Lars Homestead in Tunisia, the Milky Way's central band, and a bright fireball from the Perseids #meteor shower. Optimal viewing of this year's Perseids peak is post-midnight after moonset, requiring clear skies and patience.
HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240805.html#space #astronomy #moon #galaxy
https://files.mastodon.bot/media_attachments/files/112/908/195/192/389/638/original/97bf0966bb98c4aa.jpg