Astronomy Picture of the Day

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

APOD from 2026-03-15

Equinox at the Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent

Visit El Castillo near an equinox to witness a shadowy serpent illusion descend the Mayan pyramid. This ancient structure, aligned with celestial events, creates a striking visual during clear late afternoons. The 2019 image features #Jupiter and #Saturn beside our Milky Way.

HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260315.html#space #astronomy #galaxy #planet #earth

APOD from 2026-03-14

A Year for K2-315b

Discover K2-315b, an Earth-sized exoplanet with a year lasting 3.14 days, orbiting a red dwarf star. Found via Kepler's K2 data, it's 185 light-years away and too hot for a visit—best to celebrate Pi Day on #Earth!

HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260314.html#space #astronomy #planet #telescope

APOD from 2026-03-13

Toolondo Totality Trails

Star trails spiral over Lake Toolondo, Australia, during the March 3 #lunar #eclipse. Captured in stacked exposures during totality, the trails—including the reddened Moon's—are visible against dark skies. A separate telephoto shot of the eclipsed #Moon highlights the scene, showcasing #Earth's rotation.

HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260313.html#space #astronomy #planet

APOD from 2026-03-11

CG 4: The Globule and the #Galaxy

The featured image shows Cometary Globule CG 4, not a cosmic monster but a star-forming molecular cloud 1,300 light-years away in Puppis. Its comet-like shape has a head 1.5 light-years across and an 8-light-year tail, possibly shaped by supernova winds or stellar radiation.

HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260311.html#space #astronomy #comet #earth #nebula

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

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

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

APOD from 2026-03-07

Two Eclipses of Saros 133

Two total #lunar #eclipse sequences from 2008 and 2026 look alike because they're part of the same Saros cycle, an 18-year period predicting eclipses. The next in Saros 133 is due March 13, 2044.

HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260307.html#space #astronomy #moon #earth

APOD from 2026-03-06

The Astrosphere of HD 61005

Young star HD 61005, 120 light-years away and 100 million years old, blows a stellar wind creating an astrosphere detected by Chandra X-ray Observatory. Its bubble is 200 times Earth-Sun distance. #Hubble observed leftover debris, earning the star the nickname "the Moth."

HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260306.html#space #astronomy #planets

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

APOD from 2026-02-23

Pleiades: The Seven Sisters Star Cluster

Witness the Pleiades cluster in stunning detail with an 18-hour exposure from Poland. Visible even in cities, this star group lies 400 light-years away in Taurus. Legends say one of the "Seven Sisters" faded, but visibility varies with sky conditions and eyesight.

HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260223.html#space #astronomy #moon

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

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

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

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

APOD from 2026-02-18

Orion's Cradle

Stars form in Orion's hydrogen clouds, 1,500 light-years away. This image captures the Great Orion #Nebula and includes the Flame and Horsehead Nebulas, enhanced by a hydrogen-alpha filter revealing gas tendrils and Barnard's Loop. Visible to the naked eye, capturing gas emissions is challenging.

HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260218.html#space #astronomy

APOD from 2026-02-17

Tails of #Comet Wierzchoś

Comet C/2024 E1 (Wierzchoś) is near #Earth for its only visit before exiting the Solar System. Captured in Chile, the image shows its green coma and multiple tails against distant #galaxy NGC 300. Its hyperbolic orbit suggests it'll become interstellar.

HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260217.html#space #astronomy

APOD from 2026-02-16

Unexplained Shocks Around a White Dwarf Star

A white dwarf star, RXJ0528+2838, 730 light-years away, displays mysterious bow shocks captured by the Very Large #Telescope. Its dense core resists collapse due to quantum mechanics. The cause of these shocks, lasting over 1,000 years and glowing in hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen, remains unknown.

HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260216.html#space #astronomy #earth

APOD from 2025-08-15

Moonlight, #Planets, and Perseids

#Jupiter and #Venus shone brightly in a close conjunction above the eastern horizon, captured near Gansu, China. Despite a waning gibbous #Moon, their light reflected in a pond, alongside flashes from the Perseid #Meteor Shower at its peak.

HD image at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250815.html#space #astronomy