2026-01-11T00:11:52Z https://nostr.now APOD https://nostr.now/npub1ap0dw55xedm5w4mkcyq8m7xyluwfc680lywrvfe50vr9ckl5m3uqtf5l75 https://nostr.build/i/p/9c7e951c9df1a990330d926e66eccf73173c3108c1406434929b6e32d04b16a1.jpg https://nostr.build/i/p/9c7e951c9df1a990330d926e66eccf73173c3108c1406434929b6e32d04b16a1.jpg https://nostr.now/nevent1qqs2n7tfpsp00q2fstag586y4945rxethn6vf5c8crxhptyl5l40r9gzyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8smgvcxm **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>29 October 2026<br/><br/>**The Horns of Venus**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://assets.science.nasa.gov/dynamicimage/assets/science/cds/apod/apod/2026/october/venus_20261024a.jpg"> <br/><br/>Credit: Thierry Legault<br/><br/>Explanation: Explanation: That&#39;s no moon. But you could be forgiven for thinking it was a crescent Moon in the sky. It is a lesser known fact that Venus also has phases . (What about other planets? ) The featured image shows Venus seen almost directly between the Sun and the Earth. This happens once every year and a half , and it is like the alignment that happens every month during a new Moon. But the new Moon is dark, while Venus&#39; backlit atmosphere refracts and scatters the sunlight, creating a glowing crescent arc that extends beyond 180 degrees: the tips of this arc are called the &#34;horns&#34;. The crescent can be seen with a small telescope or binoculars during twilight, but those with exceptionally acute eyesight may be able to see it with the unaided eye. Ancient Babylonian astronomers may have been the first to study Venus&#39; brightness changes, which are related to its phases . Many other cultures have similar astronomical records, including the oldest surviving Maya book . Tomorrow&#39;s picture: What&#39;s next?<br/><br/>#APOD #VenusPhases #CrescentVenus #VenusHorns #PlanetaryPhases #Astronomy<br/><br/><a href="https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-29-october-2026-the-horns-of-venus/">https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-29-october-2026-the-horns-of-venus/</a><br/> 2026-10-29T04:07:41Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqs2akpahp2vsm4yk6g50vpzurgcwqpy9yvr45a5t22dhlnpz22nawczyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8sjaf5x8 **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>27 October 2026<br/><br/>**Noctilucent Clouds over Sweden**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://assets.science.nasa.gov/dynamicimage/assets/science/cds/apod/apod/2026/october/NocClouds_Hofer_6048.jpg"> <br/><br/>Credit: V. Höfer<br/><br/>Explanation: Explanation: Sometimes it&#39;s night on the ground but day in the air. As the Earth rotates to eclipse the Sun, sunset rises up from the ground. Therefore, at sunset on the ground, sunlight still shines on clouds above. Under usual circumstances , a pretty sunset might be visible, but unusual noctilucent clouds float so high up they can be seen well after dark. Normally too dim to be seen, they may become visible just after sunset during the summer when illuminated by sunlight from below the horizon. Noctilucent cloud s are the highest clouds and are known more technically as polar mesospheric clouds . Featured here as they appeared in early August, a network of blue noctilucent clouds was captured in the distant sky above a field of green grass near Linköping , Sweden , with trees in stark silhouette across the horizon. Much about noctilucent clouds has been discovered only in the past two decades, while how they form and evolve remains a topic of active research . Tomorrow&#39;s picture: round and round<br/><br/>#APOD #NoctilucentClouds #NLC #PolarMesosphericClouds #SwedenNightSky #Astronomy<br/><br/><a href="https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-27-noctilucent-clouds-over-sweden/">https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-27-noctilucent-clouds-over-sweden/</a><br/> 2026-10-27T04:08:30Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqsrwxwjnrg9xyf9l98tcwcpynnfcahx3skavkcy2znpw8j5jk64usqzyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8ss8929j **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>24 October 2026<br/><br/>**Rosetta&#39;s Selfie**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://assets.science.nasa.gov/dynamicimage/assets/science/cds/apod/apod/2026/october/ESA_Rosetta_Philae_CIVA_141007.png"> <br/><br/>Credit: ESA/Rosetta/Philae/CIV<br/><br/>Explanation: Explanation: This Rosetta spacecraft selfie was snapped on October 7th, 2014. At the time the comet-chasing spacecraft was about 472 million kilometers from planet Earth, but only 16 kilometers from the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko . Looming beyond the spacecraft near the top of the frame, dust and gas stream away from the comet&#39;s curious double-lobed nucleus . Bright sunlight glints off one of Rosetta&#39;s 14 meter long solar arrays. In fact, two exposures, one short and one long, were combined to record the dramatic high contrast scene using the CIVA camera system on Rosetta&#39;s still-attached Philae lander . Its chosen primary landing site was on the visible hemisphere of the smaller lobe of the nucleus. This was the last image from Philae&#39;s camera before the lander separated from Rosetta on November 12. Shortly after separation Philae took another image looking back toward the orbiter and began its descent to the nucleus of the comet. Tomorrow&#39;s picture: dark matters<br/><br/>#APOD #Rosetta #Philae #Comet67P #CIVA #Spacecraft<br/><br/><a href="https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-24-rosettas-selfie/">https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-24-rosettas-selfie/</a><br/> 2026-10-24T04:09:44Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqs934sa7jdfgzswnar74f2jk8r5kuap768envv5vxechmh6gue7ntszyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8saae2wk **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>23 October 2026<br/><br/>**Andromeda in Southern Spring**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://assets.science.nasa.gov/dynamicimage/assets/science/cds/apod/apod/2026/october/APOD_Lucy.jpg"> <br/><br/>Credit: Lucy Yunxi Hu<br/><br/>Explanation: Explanation: Looking toward the north from Mullion, New South Wales, Australia, the Andromeda Galaxy never gets more than a few degrees above the horizon. During the southern hemisphere spring, Andromeda is highest in the sky around midnight though. And in this telephoto scene from October 10/11, multiple exposures were used to reveal the spiral galaxy in tantalizing detail as it climbed above rolling Australian hills. Also known as M31 , the Andromeda Galaxy is one of the brightest objects in the Messier catalog , but is only visible to the unaided eye as a small, faint, fuzzy patch. Digitally tracked and stacked frames were combined with a foreground shot in the deep astro-image composite to reveal the galaxy&#39;s greater extent in planet Earth&#39;s night. In the springtime night skyscape,the closest large spiral galaxy spans nearly 6 full moons . Tomorrow&#39;s picture: pixels in space<br/><br/>#APOD #AndromedaGalaxy #M31 #SouthernSky #NightSky #Astronomy<br/><br/><a href="https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-23-andromeda-in-southern-spring/">https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-23-andromeda-in-southern-spring/</a><br/> 2026-10-23T04:08:47Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqsdgt5uec3pcju7hryple0zdap7z7w8x9l3qeahk0gfne7gw37hv7qzyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8sl0fe2m **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>22 October 2026<br/><br/>**The First Green Star, WD J1330+6435**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://assets.science.nasa.gov/dynamicimage/assets/science/cds/apod/apod/2026/october/green_wd_mark-garlick_annotated2.jpg"> <br/><br/>Credit: Mark A. Garlick, University of Warwick<br/><br/>Explanation: Explanation: Star light, star bright: is there a green star out tonight? Other than the Sun , all stars are so far from Earth that they appear as points in the sky. They are mostly white, but sometimes noticeably red or blue . This color typically relates to the temperature: blue stars are hotter than red stars. What about other colors? The featured image is an illustration showing WD J1330+6435 , a white dwarf star , surrounded by an accretion disk with gas and rocks orbiting the star. White dwarfs are small, faint stars that are left over when a star like the Sun exhausts its nuclear fuel . Astronomers recently found that some white dwarf stars, despite their name, would appear yellow, green, cyan, pink, or purple . In these cases , trace elements that were accreted to these stars interact with the stellar atmosphere and shift its normally white color. But, alas! I wish I may, I wish I might, but they are too faint to see tonight ... Tomorrow&#39;s picture: eye in the sky<br/><br/>#APOD #NASA #lookUp #Astronomy<br/><br/><a href="https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-22-the-first-green-star-wd-j13306435/">https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-22-the-first-green-star-wd-j13306435/</a><br/> 2026-10-22T04:06:32Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqst8zdng7ljuzly6h4ddl0smvf20g35dq92gwzjkrzlyjfjz99uhyszyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8su4xtry **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>21 October 2026<br/><br/>**New Ghosts Revealed in Cassiopeia**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://assets.science.nasa.gov/dynamicimage/assets/science/cds/apod/apod/2026/october/IC63.png"> <br/><br/>Credit: Louis Leroux-Géré, Thibault Rouillée, Vincent Martin, Cédric de Decker, Starfront Observatories<br/><br/>Explanation: Explanation: Jinkies, look at all those ghosts! It took 100 hours of observation and a special oxygen filter for today’s image to capture three faint nebulas hidden in the Cassiopeia constellation . IC 59 and IC 63 , the original Ghosts of Cassiopeia , haunt the region near multi-star system γ Cassiopeia . Energetic light from γ Cassiopeia causes the hydrogen gas in IC 59 and 63 to glow red. Their dust reflects and scatters some blue-ish white starlight. Newly discovered Objects 1, 2, and 3 appear as blue phantoms, revealing the presence of ionized oxygen. But ionized by what? Like at the bow of a speeding boat, γ Cassiopeia may be piling up material as the system moves through interstellar gas and dust. It follows that Object 3 may be the compressed and heated oxygen of that bow shock . Object 1 could be a planetary nebula if a central white dwarf is identified. The origins of these astronomical apparitions remain a mystery to be solved. Tomorrow&#39;s picture: it&#39;s not easy being green<br/><br/>#APOD #Cassiopeia #GhostNebulae #IC59 #IC63 #GammaCassiopeiae<br/><br/><a href="https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-21-new-ghosts-revealed-in-cassiopeia/">https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-21-new-ghosts-revealed-in-cassiopeia/</a><br/> 2026-10-21T04:09:59Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqsrrgdk3m95r2uy57ty4re80s6dl2vn45glwllyjdhfvf0fze9nrjczyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8sgngs2d **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>19 October 2026<br/><br/>**Treble Clef: Unusual X-ray Hot Radio Source**<br/><br/>Video thumbnail: _Link down bellow_<br/> <img src="https://assets.science.nasa.gov/dynamicimage/assets/science/cds/apod/apod/2026/october/trebleclef.jpg"> <br/><br/>Credit: NASA, CXC, INAF-IRA, A. Botteon, et al., UKIDSS, GPS, ASTRON, LOFAR, SAO, N. Wolk<br/><br/>Explanation: Explanation: Explanation : What is Treble Clef? This unusual radio structure extends over 2 million light-years and resembles a common musical symbol -- but has its visible light hidden by our own Milky Way Galaxy . Examined in 2004, the nature of VLSS J0318.9+5755, dubbed Treble Clef , remained unknown. Recent observations by the Chandra X-ray Observatory and eROSITA , however, have led to the hypothesis that the Treble Clef central cloud of charged particles was originally expelled by a supermassive black hole at the center of a galaxy. After the radio emission from those particles faded, they may have been reinvigorated by a shock wave from the collision of two clusters of galaxies . The featured composite image shows radio emission in red, while recently discovered X-rays are shown in blue. Unusual objects like Treble Clef give humanity unexpected clues about how whole clusters of galaxies interact as well as the general evolution of our universe . Tomorrow&#39;s picture: backwards rainbow<br/><br/>#APOD #TrebleClef #XRay #RadioSource #GalaxyClusters #SupermassiveBlackHole<br/><br/><a href="https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-19-treble-clef-unusual-x-ray-hot-radio-source/">https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-19-treble-clef-unusual-x-ray-hot-radio-source/</a><br/> 2026-10-19T04:06:32Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqs0qstytm757czq283afrvzwc5ym29wvmfq735quyjkaa927qykk2czyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8swey5uk **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>18 October 2026<br/><br/>**Sonified: Eagle Nebula Pillars**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/DzrCEm1ZBRY/sddefault.jpg"> <br/><br/>Credit: NASA, ESA, The Hubble Heritage Project, STScI, AURA, CXC, SAO, K. Arcand, M. Russo<br/><br/>Explanation: Explanation: Yes, but have you ever experienced the Eagle Nebula with your ears ? The famous nebula M16 is best known for the feast it gives your eyes, highlighting bright young stars forming deep inside dark towering structures . These light-years long columns of cold gas and dust are some 6,500 light-years distant toward the constellation of the Serpent ( Serpens ). Sculpted and eroded by the energetic ultraviolet light and powerful winds from M16 &#39;s cluster of massive stars, the cosmic pillars themselves are destined for destruction . But the turbulent environment of star formation within M16 , whose spectacular details are captured in this combined Hubble ( visible ) and Chandra ( X-ray ) image, is likely similar to the environment that formed our own Sun . In the featured video , listen for stars and dust sounding off as the line of sonification moves left to right, with vertical position determining pitch . Tomorrow&#39;s picture: what could it be?<br/><br/>#APOD #EagleNebula #PillarsOfCreation #M16 #Serpens #HubbleSpaceTelescope<br/><br/><a href="https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-18-sonified-eagle-nebula-pillars/">https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-18-sonified-eagle-nebula-pillars/</a><br/> 2026-10-18T04:05:44Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqs2r2eu2gxagj5wqhvu0uwcsmnd28dzpsz0z0ug50alud3cjjqrmsqzyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8sypw2hh **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>16 October 2026<br/><br/>**Chasing the International Space Station**<br/><br/>Video APOD: watch it on the APOD link below.<br/><br/>Credit: Eric Holland<br/><br/>Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2026 October 16 Explanation: Explanation: Blasting into the predawn sky on Tuesday, October 13, a Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft are headed for low Earth orbit in this stunning timelapse video captured from Indian Harbour Beach, Florida. Starting with a launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Falcon and Dragon are chasing the International Space Station on NASA&#39;s 35th Commercial Resupply Services mission. On cue, the space station itself enters the frame from the top. Almost 8 seconds into the 30 second timelapse. the bright streak of the ISS appears heading &#34;down&#34; toward the horizon. The first and second stages of the Falcon 9 are separating as the spectacular exhaust plume jellyfish grows, already catching the light of the rising Sun. The visible sequence of first stage boost back, re-entry, and landing burns begins around 20 seconds into the video. With the second stage following the ISS toward the distant horizon, the jellyfish plume continues to drift in the predawn sky, even after the successful first stage landing at planet Earth&#39;s Landing Zone 40. Tomorrow&#39;s picture: pixels in space<br/><br/>#APOD #Astronomy #Space #ISS #Falcon9 #SpaceLaunch<br/><br/><a href="https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-16-chasing-the-international-space-station/">https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-16-chasing-the-international-space-station/</a><br/> 2026-10-16T04:08:04Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqst4xcr7x5kzq5ysd5gpumsk2ek4zrd7duv3cssl3td5v7vew7wxxqzyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8sunw34n **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>14 October 2026<br/><br/>**Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://science.nasa.gov/wp-content/themes/nasa-child/assets/images/nasa-logo@2x.png"> <br/><br/>Credit: Not provided<br/><br/>The city lights outshine the stars in the City That Never Sleeps . Who would have thought that the Milky Way could be visible in this sky? This image was taken with a filter that blocks most visible light , capturing instead only light in the near- infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum (with lower energy than visible light). The astrophotographer&#39;s clever setup blocks most of the light pollution from the city: old incandescent light bulbs and some neon lights are still bright in the near-infrared, but fluorescent and LED light bulbs are not. Of course, stars are also bright in the near-infrared! This image is a reminder that we all live under the same sky , and astronomy allows all of us to learn more about humanity&#39;s place in the Cosmos .<br/><br/>#APOD #AstronomyPictureOfTheDay #APOD #MilkyWay #NearInfrared #LightPollution<br/><br/><a href="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap261014.html">https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap261014.html</a><br/> 2026-10-15T06:03:59Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqsfe5gzh507zevslzwnpvv5wegefzf3jky2a9qlq00v5sprql95c9qzyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8sg6lawm **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>15 October 2026<br/><br/>**The Milky Way over Manhattan**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://assets.science.nasa.gov/dynamicimage/assets/science/cds/apod/apod/2026/october/Manhattan%20Milkyway.jpg"> <br/><br/>Credit: Jason Kurth, Ty Buckley<br/><br/>Explanation: Explanation: The city lights outshine the stars in the City That Never Sleeps . Who would have thought that the Milky Way could be visible in this sky? This image was taken with a filter that blocks most visible light , capturing instead only light in the near- infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum (with lower energy than visible light). The astrophotographer&#39;s clever setup blocks most of the light pollution from the city: old incandescent light bulbs and some neon lights are still bright in the near-infrared, but fluorescent and LED light bulbs are not. Of course, stars are also bright in the near-infrared! This image is a reminder that we all live under the same sky , and astronomy allows all of us to learn more about humanity&#39;s place in the Cosmos . Tomorrow&#39;s picture: Chasing the ISS<br/><br/>#APOD #MilkyWay #Manhattan #CityLights #SkyPhotography #InfraredAstronomy<br/><br/><a href="https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-15-the-milky-way-over-manhattan/">https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-15-the-milky-way-over-manhattan/</a><br/> 2026-10-15T04:06:33Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqsyypa42qqd595s3aysd99505dqmu8jgkmmx2wfqz0sedu2ac39v8szyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8s5km500 **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>14 October 2026<br/><br/>**Mars and the Beehive Under an Aurora**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://assets.science.nasa.gov/dynamicimage/assets/science/cds/apod/apod/2026/october/2026_10_10_PZ_Jesli%C4%8Dky_01_1500px.png"> <br/><br/>Credit: Petr Horálek, Institute of Physics in Opava, Josef Kujal, Vojan Höfer<br/><br/>Explanation: Explanation: What a cosmic coincidence! In today’s image , Mars joins the Beehive cluster ( M44 or Praesepe) below an auroral curtain and above a horizon of happy little trees near Lansjärv, Sweden . An eruption off the Sun reached Earth on October 10th, 2026 causing strong disturbances in Earth’s magnetic field . Energetic particles from the eruption collide with and energize the molecules in Earth’s atmosphere, which release that extra energy as the colorful aurora captured here. Auroras, or guovssahasat in North Sámi, is traditionally viewed with respect by the Sámi people indigenous to Sweden and other Arctic regions. Coincidentally, Mars appeared closest to the center of the Beehive cluster in the sky at the time. Although bees have been to space , the Beehive cluster is actually a swarm of young stars. Their rotation periods have helped humanity learn about how stars spin slower over time as they lose mass through their stellar winds . Tomorrow&#39;s picture: open space<br/><br/>#APOD #Mars #BeehiveCluster #Praesepe #Aurora #SolarStorm<br/><br/><a href="https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-14-mars-and-the-beehive-under-an-aurora/">https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-14-mars-and-the-beehive-under-an-aurora/</a><br/> 2026-10-14T04:10:01Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqs0wy6guy5k6llgksz60mtr4dtzj78yrvnsevn0evu4r0n0ufasczqzyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8sjgtrhp **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>12 October 2026<br/><br/>**Jupiter and the Moons**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://assets.science.nasa.gov/dynamicimage/assets/science/cds/apod/apod/2026/october/JupiterMoons_Upreti_3105.jpg"> <br/><br/>Credit: Chirag Upreti<br/><br/>Explanation: Explanation: How many moons can you see? The best answer is five: four orbiting Jupiter and Luna orbiting Earth. This multi-moon picture was possible because Earth&#39;s Moon moved directly in front of Jupiter last week. The featured image is a series of exposures near alignment taken from Westchester , New York , USA . The sunlit crescent of Earth&#39;s Moon, on the lower left, is overexposed, while the Moon&#39;s night side, on the upper right, is faintly illuminated by Earthshine . Lined up nearly vertically above our Moon, listed from bottom to top, are Jupiter&#39;s bright Galilean satellites : Ganymede, Io, Callisto, and Europa. Callisto , Ganymede , and Io are larger than Earth&#39;s Moon, while Europa is only slightly smaller. NASA&#39;s robotic spacecraft Juno is currently orbiting Jupiter and has made close passes near three of these moons. Tomorrow&#39;s picture: stairway to heaven<br/><br/>#APOD #Jupiter #GalileanSatellites #Luna #EarthMoon #NASA<br/><br/><a href="https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-12-jupiter-and-the-moons/">https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-12-jupiter-and-the-moons/</a><br/> 2026-10-12T04:06:28Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqs80x0hr5wga6t2dj45p6rgtvddpkqhn8y9dcx8h9hn9n9eqhcxgdqzyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8sjhshcu **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>10 October 2026<br/><br/>**Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://science.nasa.gov/wp-content/themes/nasa-child/assets/images/nasa-logo@2x.png"> <br/><br/>Credit: Not provided<br/><br/>Scientists are melting holes in the bottom of the world. In fact, almost 100 holes melted near the South Pole are now being used as an astronomical observatory. Astronomers with the IceCube Neutrino Observatory lowered a long string knotted with basketball-sized light detectors into each vertical lake. The water in each hole soon refreezes. The detectors attached to the strings are sensitive to blue light emitted in the surrounding clear ice . Such light results from fast-moving secondary particles liberated when high-energy neutrinos emitted by powerful processes out in the universe collide with ice molecules. IceCube has now detected many illuminating neutrinos. Pictured in 2010, one of the last of IceCube&#39;s detector strings is lowered into the freezing abyss , making IceCube the largest neutrino detector ever created. In recognition of unprecedented discoveries , it was announced earlier this week that a founding leader of the IceCube Collaboration will be awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics .<br/><br/>#APOD #Astronomy #Astrophysics #Neutrinos #IceCube #SouthPole<br/><br/><a href="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap261010.html">https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap261010.html</a><br/> 2026-10-11T15:01:56Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqs00jm29lkhktcpg3ujf7qgn5jefr9uq9p0v4fl4kc97aw67en7gnqzyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8s4wq9vz **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>11 October 2026<br/><br/>**Ice Fishing for Cosmic Neutrinos**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://assets.science.nasa.gov/dynamicimage/assets/science/cds/apod/apod/2026/october/deephole_icecube_4000.jpg"> <br/><br/>Credit: NSF, IceCube Collaboration<br/><br/>Explanation: Explanation: Scientists are melting holes in the bottom of the world. In fact, almost 100 holes melted near the South Pole are now being used as an astronomical observatory. Astronomers with the IceCube Neutrino Observatory lowered a long string knotted with basketball-sized light detectors into each vertical lake. The water in each hole soon refreezes. The detectors attached to the strings are sensitive to blue light emitted in the surrounding clear ice . Such light results from fast-moving secondary particles liberated when high-energy neutrinos emitted by powerful processes out in the universe collide with ice molecules. IceCube has now detected many illuminating neutrinos. Pictured in 2010, one of the last of IceCube&#39;s detector strings is lowered into the freezing abyss , making IceCube the largest neutrino detector ever created. In recognition of unprecedented discoveries , it was announced earlier this week that a founding leader of the IceCube Collaboration will be awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics . Tomorrow&#39;s picture: Moons Planet<br/><br/>#APOD #IceCube #NeutrinoAstronomy #CosmicNeutrinos #SouthPole #Astrophysics<br/><br/><a href="https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-11-ice-fishing-for-cosmic-neutrinos/">https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-11-ice-fishing-for-cosmic-neutrinos/</a><br/> 2026-10-11T04:09:40Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqs2c4njjhjw8an8dqmdaxpd0gdjj6776utmquw7k56u2ctwc9sf8dszyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8scn6xeq **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>10 October 2026<br/><br/>**Lunar Farside**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://assets.science.nasa.gov/dynamicimage/assets/science/cds/apod/apod/2026/october/farside_lro1600.jpg"> <br/><br/>Credit: NASA, GSFC, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter<br/><br/>Explanation: Explanation: Tidally locked in synchronous rotation , the Moon always presents its familiar nearside to denizens of planet Earth . From lunar orbit, the Moon&#39;s farside can become familiar, though. In fact this sharp picture , a mosaic from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter&#39;s wide angle camera, is centered on the lunar farside. Part of a global mosaic of over 15,000 images acquired between November 2009 and February 2011, the highest resolution version shows features at a scale of 100 meters per pixel. Surprisingly, the rough and battered surface of the farside looks very different from the nearside covered with smooth dark lunar maria. A likely explanation is that the farside crust is thicker , making it harder for molten material from the interior to flow to the surface and form dark, smooth maria . Tomorrow&#39;s picture: Sunday&#39;s Childe<br/><br/>#APOD #LunarFarside #Moon #LunarSurface #LunarReconnaissanceOrbiter #LRO<br/><br/><a href="https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-10-lunar-farside/">https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-10-lunar-farside/</a><br/> 2026-10-10T04:08:55Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqsru0a9ep90ch3fvnzrtffzym6jx6y9rn0c5lm93nk0zaz88hrspygzyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8sner6r4 **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>09 October 2026<br/><br/>**Stickney Crater**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://assets.science.nasa.gov/dynamicimage/assets/science/cds/apod/apod/2026/october/PSP_007769_9010_IRB_Stickney.jpg"> <br/><br/>Credit: HiRISE, MRO, LPL (U. Arizona), NASA<br/><br/>Explanation: Explanation: Stickney Crater, the largest crater on the martian moon Phobos, is named for Chloe Angeline Stickney Hall, mathematician and wife of astronomer Asaph Hall. Asaph Hall discovered both the Red Planet&#39;s moons in 1877. Over 9 kilometers across, Stickney is nearly half the diameter of Phobos itself, so large that the impact that blasted out the crater likely came close to shattering the tiny moon. This enhanced-color image of Stickney and surroundings was recorded by the HiRISE camera onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter as it passed within some six thousand kilometers of Phobos in March of 2008. Even though the surface gravity of asteroid-like Phobos is less than 1/1000th Earth&#39;s gravity, streaks suggest loose material slid down inside the crater walls over time. Light bluish regions near the crater&#39;s rim could indicate a relatively freshly exposed surface. The origin of the curious grooves along the surface is mysterious but may be related to tidal stresses experienced by close-orbiting Phobos or the crater-forming impact itself. Tomorrow&#39;s picture: farside<br/><br/>#APOD #StickneyCrater #Phobos #Mars #MarsMoons #HiRISE<br/><br/><a href="https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-9-stickney-crater/">https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-9-stickney-crater/</a><br/> 2026-10-09T04:06:50Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqsggg8awtr77znyeysdwyvuw88fvm5trcg9cmt05sja0840kvvuf7qzyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8swzdan9 **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>07 October 2026<br/><br/>**Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://science.nasa.gov/wp-content/themes/nasa-child/assets/images/nasa-logo@2x.png"> <br/><br/>Credit: Not provided<br/><br/>How was the Saturn system imaged so clearly? Astrophotographer Tom Williams captured such exquisite details due to one night of exceptional atmospheric conditions above the United Kingdom. This means more than a cloudless sky. Pockets of air at different temperatures and densities move around and bend light as it travels through Earth’s atmosphere, distorting astronomy images. This is called “ seeing .” Less atmospheric turbulence means clearer images. The astrophotographer reduced the impact of seeing with the lucky imaging technique: thousands of short-exposure images are taken very quickly with a high-speed camera and the clearest images are added up. Which object in this smörgåsbord interests you? Perhaps Titan or the icy stripes of Enceladus ? Maybe the gaps and spokes in Saturn’s rings? Saturn&#39;s opposition , when Earth passes in between the planet and the Sun, occurred on October 4th. Due to the planet&#39;s proximity and full illumination from the Sun, now is a great time of year to observe it!<br/><br/>#APOD #Space #Astrophotography #Astrogeek #Cosmos<br/><br/><a href="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap261007.html">https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap261007.html</a><br/> 2026-10-08T15:01:58Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqsxjmt2tjqglyyj9gehznk5ncdpluaddthys709p4zjsk97de7ltsczyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8snze3yt **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>08 October 2026<br/><br/>**The Saturn System Smörgåsbord**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://assets.science.nasa.gov/dynamicimage/assets/science/cds/apod/apod/2026/october/2026-09-21-2349_3-TW-RGB-Sat2_1.5x_Labelled.png"> <br/><br/>Credit: Tom Williams<br/><br/>Explanation: Explanation: How was the Saturn system imaged so clearly? Astrophotographer Tom Williams captured such exquisite details due to one night of exceptional atmospheric conditions above the United Kingdom. This means more than a cloudless sky. Pockets of air at different temperatures and densities move around and bend light as it travels through Earth’s atmosphere, distorting astronomy images. This is called “ seeing ”. Less atmospheric turbulence means clearer images. The astrophotographer reduced the impact of seeing with the lucky imaging technique: thousands of short-exposure images are taken very quickly with a high-speed camera and the clearest images are added up. Which object in this smörgåsbord interests you? Perhaps Titan or the icy stripes of Enceladus ? Maybe the gaps and spokes in Saturn’s rings? Saturn&#39;s opposition , when Earth passes in between the planet and the Sun, occurred on October 4th. Due to the planet&#39;s proximity and full illumination from the Sun, now is a great time of year to observe it! Tomorrow&#39;s picture: bumpy<br/><br/>#APOD #Astrogeek #Astrophotography #Science #Space<br/><br/><a href="https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-8-the-saturn-system-smorgasbord/">https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-8-the-saturn-system-smorgasbord/</a><br/> 2026-10-08T04:09:40Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqs8kuhy50ksfy3yah2r7cue6n7wpz3r9zrdrsndgd2wd4wae95509gzyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8srv2rcq **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>07 October 2026<br/><br/>**Supernova Remnant Pa 30**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://assets.science.nasa.gov/dynamicimage/assets/science/cds/apod/apod/2026/october/noirlab2624a.jpg"> <br/><br/>Credit: International Gemini Observatory, NOIRLab, NSF, AURA, T. Cunningham, Center for Astrophysics - Harvard &amp; Smithsonian, T.A. Rector, University of Alaska Anchorage, D. de Martin, M. Zamani<br/><br/>Explanation: Explanation: &#34;Happy New Year!&#34; No, wait, this is not a fireworks display . This image shows Nebula Pa 30 , observed with the Gemini North Telescope in Hawai&#39;i . It is likely the remnant of an old supernova explosion : separate historical records by Chinese, Japanese and Arabic astronomers tell of a &#34; guest star &#34; that appeared in the sky for 185 days in the year 1181 . It is believed that this bright new point of light came from the supernova that caused the fireworks in Pa 30. Astronomers don&#39;t know exactly what happened in this unusual explosion, classified as a Type Iax supernova, but it is thought to be caused by the merger of two white dwarfs . The mysterious central star in the image is extremely hot and produces a strong wind, possibly forming the radial filaments . Look closely at them: those pearl-like knots stringing the filaments are 4 light-days in diameter. Understanding how a supernova created this amazing nebula continues an 845-year old mystery (and counting). Tomorrow&#39;s picture: smörgåsbord<br/><br/>#APOD #Supernova #Pa30 #GeminiNorth #Hawaii #Astronomy<br/><br/><a href="https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-7-supernova-remnant-pa-30/">https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-7-supernova-remnant-pa-30/</a><br/> 2026-10-07T04:08:49Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqsden69efhxfcjfyg4m7dsvv0naw6c0den505rm7wzg4hureh8zeyqzyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8scktk57 **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>06 October 2026<br/><br/>**A Complete Auroral Oval from SMILE**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://assets.science.nasa.gov/dynamicimage/assets/science/cds/apod/apod/2013/october/n891_block.jpg"> <br/><br/>Credit: ESA, CAS, SMILE, UVI<br/><br/>Explanation: Explanation: Have you ever seen a complete auroral oval? You can&#39;t see one from the ground because it makes too large a circle around one of Earth&#39;s magnetic pole s. But spacecraft high above the Earth can see them. The featured video from ESA and CAS &#39;s robotic SMILE spacecraft shows not only a full auroral oval , but using ultraviolet light , one that occurred during the day. The time-lapse covers about an hour in late July and shows visually how variable and turbulent auroras really are. The points of light on the sides are distant star s that appear to move only because SMILE&#39;s camera view shifts as the spacecraft orbits the Earth. A goal of SMILE is to better understand how the Sun&#39;s wind interacts with the Earth&#39;s magnetosphere -- and so better understand how to protect astronauts, spacecraft, and ground-based electrical grids from solar storms . Tomorrow&#39;s picture: a ghost<br/><br/>#APOD #AuroralOval #SMILEMission #ESA #CAS #AuroraScience<br/><br/><a href="https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-6-a-complete-auroral-oval-from-smile/">https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-6-a-complete-auroral-oval-from-smile/</a><br/> 2026-10-06T04:07:39Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqs2vv8ua6ctsna6ytcdj8y9u0p4qua4mz458ngvwxq3zcvg3mcmlhgzyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8s9v23y4 **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>05 October 2026<br/><br/>**M104: The Sombrero Galaxy&#39;s Tidal Streams**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://assets.science.nasa.gov/dynamicimage/assets/science/cds/apod/apod/2026/october/M104_Vollmer_4222.jpg"> <br/><br/>Credit: Engelbert Vollmer<br/><br/>Explanation: Explanation: A deep image of the Sombrero galaxy reveals surprises. M104 is named the Sombrero galaxy because, on shorter exposures , it looks like a hat . A key defining feature of this huge galaxy is a dark brim of dust that circles the disk galaxy&#39;s center. A much longer exposure, however, brings up a hairy past where a bright, hazy halo is revealed that extends well past the central disk and contains many unresolved stars. Surprisingly , in this stellar haze, structures can be seen that include a diagonal ring . These structures and tidal streams provide fresh evidence that M104 had a violent past and is surely the result of collisions and mergers of smaller galaxies. Light takes about 30 million years to reach us from the Sombrero galaxy , which fully spans about 150 thousand light years across. The featured image was taken over seven days in mid-2026 from Namibia . Your Sky Surprise: What picture did APOD feature on your birthday? (post 1995) Tomorrow&#39;s picture: a smile<br/><br/>#APOD #M104 #SombreroGalaxy #TidalStreams #GalaxyInteractions #DeepImaging<br/><br/><a href="https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-5-m104-the-sombrero-galaxys-tidal-streams/">https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-5-m104-the-sombrero-galaxys-tidal-streams/</a><br/> 2026-10-05T04:06:34Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqsz874gglev3hdggm469sxd44a4xak59dnukdxxfnqyrw4zdjpw2vczyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8su2a9u0 **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>04 October 2026<br/><br/>**Supernumerary Rainbows over New Jersey**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://assets.science.nasa.gov/dynamicimage/assets/science/cds/apod/apod/2026/october/SupernumeraryRainbows_Entwistle_1362.jpg"> <br/><br/>Credit: John Entwistle<br/><br/>Explanation: Explanation: Yes, but can your rainbow do this? After the remnants of Hurricane Florence passed over the Jersey Shore, New Jersey , USA in 2018, the Sun came out in one direction but something quite unusual appeared in the opposite direction: a hall of rainbows . Over the course of the next half hour, to the delight of the photographer and his daughter, vibrant supernumerary rainbows faded in and out, with at least five captured in this featured single shot. Supernumerary rainbows only form when falling water droplets are all nearly the same size and typically less than a millimeter across. Then, sunlight will not only reflect from inside the raindrops, but interfere , a wave phenomenon similar to ripples on a pond when a stone is thrown in. In fact, supernumerary rainbows can only be explained with waves, and their noted existence in the early 1800s was considered early evidence of light&#39;s wave nature . Your Sky Surprise: What picture did APOD feature on your birthday? (post 1995) Tomorrow&#39;s picture: open space<br/><br/>#APOD #astronomy #cosmos #space #universe #celestial<br/><br/><a href="https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-4-supernumerary-rainbows-over-new-jersey/">https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-4-supernumerary-rainbows-over-new-jersey/</a><br/> 2026-10-04T04:06:00Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqsgvhgn6knsy875nhx6s6zle04geeyplktpxtwy9grc5t2p3xmyw8czyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8s7qfztr **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>03 October 2026<br/><br/>**Selfie at Vera Rubin Ridge**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://assets.science.nasa.gov/dynamicimage/assets/science/cds/apod/apod/2026/october/Sol1943CuriosityBodrov.jpg"> <br/><br/>Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, MSSS, Andrew Bodrov<br/><br/>Explanation: Explanation: On sol 1943 of its journey of exploration across the surface of Mars, the Curiosity Rover recorded this selfie at the south rim of Vera Rubin Ridge. Of course a sol is a Martian solar day , about 40 minutes longer than an Earth day. Curiosity&#39;s sol 1943 corresponds to Earth date January 23, 2018. Also composed as an interactive 360 degree VR , the mosaicked panorama combines 61 exposures taken by the small car-sized rover&#39;s Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI). Frames containing the imager&#39;s arm have been edited out while the extended background used was taken by the rover&#39;s Mastcam on sol 1903. At the top of the rover&#39;s mast, sitting above the Mastcam, the laser-firing ChemCam housing blocks out the distant, 5 kilometer high peak of Mount Sharp. On Earth date August 26, 2026, Curiosity marked an total elevation gain of 1 kilometer in its trek from the floor of Gale Crater up the slope of Mount Sharp. APOD&#39;s email for image submissions has changed. Please see: APOD Submissions . Tomorrow&#39;s picture: Sunday&#39;s Childe<br/><br/>#APOD #CuriosityRover #VeraRubinRidge #MarsExploration #MarsRover #MarsPhotography<br/><br/><a href="https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-3-selfie-at-vera-rubin-ridge/">https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-october-3-selfie-at-vera-rubin-ridge/</a><br/> 2026-10-03T04:09:17Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqswanmjhe9r7fw8fltazwh2wegn0yy80yr4y2rrsl8tuwzgz5vc3mszyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8sdd4xyc **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>01 October 2026<br/><br/>**Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://science.nasa.gov/wp-content/themes/nasa-child/assets/images/nasa-logo@2x.png"> <br/><br/>Credit: Not provided<br/><br/>What does it take to image hundreds of nebulas? Today’s image contains the entire Sharpless Catalog of H II Regions , totaling 313 objects. Zoom in and explore! You may spot fan favorites like the Eagle (Sh2-49), Heart (Sh2-190), and Orion (Sh2-281) Nebulas. Despite its name, this catalog contains more than the glow of ionized hydrogen that makes up H II regions . There are planetary nebulas (the Medusa Nebula , Sh2-274) and supernova remnants (the Spaghetti Nebula , Sh2-240) as well. Astrophotographer Bing Xin traversed the dark skies of Eastern China and Inner Mongolia to catch them all . Narrowband filters that primarily capture light from ionized hydrogen and oxygen as well as red-green-blue filters were used. Each object took 2 to 6 hours to capture, with the entire catalog taking around 800 hours to complete! Which object is your favorite ? APOD&#39;s email for image submissions has changed. Please see: APOD Submissions<br/><br/>#APOD #Astronomy #Astrophotography #SharplessCatalog #HIIRegions #Nebulae<br/><br/><a href="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap261001.html">https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap261001.html</a><br/> 2026-10-02T04:17:33Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqsrvdsqh8jjhvyce9n20dwnzn94cyf7cujxev6v9w0x4965dv7ed8czyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8ssvwhz8 **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>30 September 2026<br/><br/>**Arp 78: Peculiar Galaxy in Aries**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://assets.science.nasa.gov/dynamicimage/assets/science/cds/apod/apod/2026/october/NGC772_Robert_Eder.jpg"> <br/><br/>Credit: Robert Eder<br/><br/>Explanation: Explanation: Peculiar spiral galaxy Arp 78 is found within the boundaries of the head strong constellation Aries . Some 100 million light-years beyond the stars and nebulae of our Milky Way galaxy, the island universe is an enormous 200,000 light-years across. Also known as NGC 772 , it sports a prominent, outer spiral arm in this detailed cosmic portrait . Tracking along sweeping dust lanes and lined with young blue star clusters, Arp 78&#39;s overdeveloped spiral arm is pumped-up by galactic-scale gravitational tides. Interactions with its brightest companion galaxy, the more compact NGC 770 seen directly below the larger spiral, are likely responsible. Embedded in faint star streams revealed in the deep telescopic exposure, NGC 770&#39;s fuzzy, elliptical appearance contrasts nicely with spiky foreground Milky Way stars. APOD&#39;s email for image submissions has changed. Please see: APOD Submissions . Tomorrow&#39;s picture: a harvest<br/><br/>#APOD #Arp78 #NGC772 #NGC770 #AriesConstellation #PeculiarGalaxy<br/><br/><a href="https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-september-30-arp-78-peculiar-galaxy-in-aries/">https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-september-30-arp-78-peculiar-galaxy-in-aries/</a><br/> 2026-09-30T14:13:51Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqsw8h0azkhx96spfujzj9ssptjlay8fakr4ld48agcl2tk49h3kheqzyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8s0xjxrr **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>16 September 2026<br/><br/>**Webb&#39;s View of M64**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2609/M64_Webb.jpg"> <br/><br/>Image Credit: NASA, CSA, ESA, F. Belfiore (ESO), J. Lee (STScI), A. Leroy (OSU), and D. Thilker (JHU); Image Processing: G. Kober (NASA/Catholic University) Text: Keighley Rockcliffe ( NASA GSFC , UMBC CSST , CRESST II )<br/><br/>Sometimes where Hubble finds darkness, Webb sees light. An example is today’s composite images of Messier 64 (M64), a nearby spiral galaxy of many names . The dark band of dust partially blocking its bright core earned it the moniker “ the Black Eye Galaxy .” Webb’s Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) sees that dust, shown in red, as it absorbs and re-emits light from surrounding newborn stars. These young stars are embedded in pink star-forming regions in the secondary Hubble-only image. M64’s inner and outer gas regions counter-rotate , creating regions of increased star formation where the two gas “currents” meet and compress. A merger between M64 and a smaller galaxy was likely the cause of the opposing motion of the outer gas. Spiral galaxies were once thought to have peaceful histories. M64 was key evidence that spiral galaxies, including the Milky Way , can and do experience mergers. Webb’s view of M64 will tell astronomers about the structure, motion, and composition of the galaxy’s dust and add context to the galaxy’s merger history and evolution.<br/><br/>#APOD #The #API #key #used #for<br/><br/><a href="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260916.html">https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260916.html</a><br/> 2026-09-16T04:07:15Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqs0sp8seac5wznmjz76pwptu4cvz4jxrv0fpy5e34vfmdxgcuysgsgzyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8s79spdt **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>15 September 2026<br/><br/>**A Daytime Eclipse: Moon Occults Venus**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2609/MoonVenus_Mariat_1410.jpg"> <br/><br/>Credit: Not provided<br/><br/>There was something behind the clouds. Upon close inspection, it was the Moon , which was hard to see yesterday around noon above the small village of Cessy , France . But soon, it was not only the Moon . As expected, a bright dot suddenly appeared from behind the Moon -- the planet Venus far in the distance. Captured in the single featured exposure , both appeared to show a crescent phase. The Moon&#39;s crescent was quite slight -- with only about 10 percent of its face illuminated by the Sun . In contrast, Venus&#39;s crescent was more full -- showing about 25 percent illumination. Venus appeared brighter because it is nearer the Sun and because its clouds are more reflective than the dark lunar surface . An occultation of Venus by the Moon is visible to only about 10 percent of the Earth , but in yesterday&#39;s event even most of that was experiencing daytime .<br/><br/>#APOD #The #API #key #used #for<br/><br/><a href="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260915.html">https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260915.html</a><br/> 2026-09-15T04:10:13Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqs0jy3emhzncytl2xpvp4rf3qmsdccshucauxc675kvrkxajhl4heczyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8skgflml **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>02 September 2026<br/><br/>**Solar Eclipses and Culture**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2609/colors_of_eclipse.jpg"> <br/><br/>Credit: Not provided<br/><br/>Pretend you have never heard of a solar eclipse. The Sun’s behavior has been predictable your whole life. One day, you witness the sky transform as it does in today’s spliced image spanning two hours of the August 12, 2026 solar eclipse . The Sun disappears, leaving behind a bright, empty ring. What would you think had happened? Humans have interpreted eclipses in countless ways throughout history , embedding beliefs about connection, rebirth, or danger into culture. “Eclipse” comes from the Greek word “ ékleipsis ” meaning “abandonment”. In ancient Greece, the solar eclipse marked the anger of the gods and the Sun abandoning humanity. To the Diné people , this celestial alignment is a time of renewal. Out of respect and to avoid the danger of sunlight, the Diné stay inside until the Sun and Moon separate. The Batammariba people of Benin and Togo believe that the Sun and Moon fight during an eclipse, so the community encourages peace among themselves. Eclipses are an example of the longstanding connection between astronomy and society.<br/><br/>#APOD #NASA #Astronomy #lookUp<br/><br/><a href="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260902.html">https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260902.html</a><br/> 2026-09-02T04:06:00Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqsf6y4hgclw3xy36e8u2wegzjthtne70z55ra5kr28f0q36uuq7mxczyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8s5450xs **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>14 August 2026<br/><br/>**Total Solar Eclipse from Greenland**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2608/TSE2026DR_Madhaven.jpeg"> <br/><br/>Credit: Not provided<br/><br/>On August 12 , the Moon&#39;s shadow reached out to touch our fair planet. Beginning in the Arctic Ocean, it swept along a narrow track that led the dark lunar umbra across parts of Greenland, Iceland, the Atlantic, Portugal, and northern Spain . And for a moment, denizens of Earth who found themselves with clear skies under the shadow of the Moon could witness a total solar eclipse. After dodging the weather by sea and making a landing along Rype Fjord on the Greenland east coast (at 71.07055N, 27.71252W), this hard-won snapshot was captured at 17:33:26 UTC. That&#39;s near the initial reach of clearing skies along the path of totality , so the image is likely one of the first unobstructed views of the totally eclipsed Sun . Through a break in the clouds, the stunning photo also records one of this eclipse&#39;s transient diamond rings and the magnificent solar corona emerging near the moment totality began.<br/><br/>#APOD #Cosmos #Astroeducation #lookUp #Astrogeek<br/><br/><a href="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260814.html">https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260814.html</a><br/> 2026-08-14T04:08:19Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqst7mtvhmgwu26f5ehaef4sxmhvtwmamqvhasj06y49l4tuc573yxszyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8s32fxpj **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>22 July 2026<br/><br/>**The Corona Australis Molecular Cloud and the Chandelier Cluster**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2607/corona_australis.jpg"> <br/><br/>Image Credit: DES/DOE/FNAL/DECam/CTIO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA Image Processing: T.A. Rector (UAA/NOIRLab), R. Colombari &amp; M. Zamani (NOIRLab) Text: Keighley Rockcliffe ( NASA GSFC , UMBC CSST , CRESST II )<br/><br/>The Southern Crown (Corona Australis) dazzles with young and ancient celestial jewels. The Corona Australis Cloud is a collage of reflection and emission nebulae on the left of today’s image . At 430 light years away, this cloud is one of the closest star-forming regions to Earth. It contains gas cool enough (-260 Celsius or -440 Fahrenheit) to collapse into protostars . Recently formed stars paint blue hues across the cloud as their light reflects off surrounding material. The waltz of the R Coronae Australis binary system stirs up the nebula NGC 6729 . The younger of the pair ionizes nearby gas with its ultraviolet light, causing it to glow. The Chandelier Cluster (NGC 6723) dangles from the top right, but is actually tens of thousands of light years farther away than its apparent star-forming neighbor. While NGC 6723 experienced multiple periods of star formation creating slightly younger stars, the chandelier twinkles with stars almost as old as the universe.<br/><br/>#APOD #Astrogeek #NASA #lookUp #NASAInspires<br/><br/><a href="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260722.html">https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260722.html</a><br/> 2026-07-22T04:07:13Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqsvz7rl2shx0zmhqayanemzcewtt7hc06el38k573hyhz9fqtxmnkszyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8scp9vf9 **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>18 July 2026<br/><br/>**Shadow and Rainbow**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2607/ShadowandRainbow_Loschiavo.jpg"> <br/><br/>Credit: Not provided<br/><br/>At sunset, an alignment of rainbow and mountain shadow was captured in this remarkable snapshot. The stunning view was recorded from a fire lookout on Smith Peak in the Plumas National Forest near Portola, California on July 13. Still, near sunset it&#39;s no accident that the majestic mountain shadow seems to point to the center of the graceful rainbow arc . Due to perspective and the long line of sight the mountain shadow naturally forms a tapering triangular shape, its apex positioned at the point opposite the Sun on the horizon. Following thunderstorms across the region, the rainbow arcs across the early evening sky, with its colorful and characteristic 42 degree arc formed as sunlight is refracted and reflected by the atmospheric water droplets. The geometric center of a rainbow arc lies at the antisolar point. And in this scene from the golden hour on planet Earth , that&#39;s also oposite the setting Sun along the distant horizon.<br/><br/>#APOD #Astronomy #AstroPhotography #Stargazing #NightSky #Space<br/><br/><a href="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260718.html">https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260718.html</a><br/> 2026-07-18T04:09:24Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqsyh9g3tgayu5ssupte88ec0k5pvzvvnyjaegmepp2s9gjwcr4jm6gzyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8sl709eg **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>09 July 2026<br/><br/>**The Red Glow of the Cosmic Bat Nebula**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2607/cosmic_bat_1024.jpg"> <br/><br/>Credit: Not provided<br/><br/>This Cosmic Bat wishes you a happy Summerween ! This mid-year celebration of Halloween transcends hemispheres, even though summer in the Northern hemisphere is winter in the South. Contrary to its eery aura, the Cosmic Bat Nebula ( LDN 43), not to be confused with the Bat Nebula (NGC 6995), is a vibrant birthplace for stars . A bit of young starlight peeks through the dense clouds of gas and dust that make up the Cosmic Bat’s 12 lightyear wingspan. The ultraviolet light from the young stars energizes the nebula’s hydrogen gas, causing it to glow an ominous red . The jet of glowing hydrogen gas emerging from the bat’s head hints at the star formation hidden within.<br/><br/>#APOD #CosmicBatNebula #LDN43 #RedNebula #StarFormation #YoungStars<br/><br/><a href="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260709.html">https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260709.html</a><br/> 2026-07-09T04:09:09Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqsrhfmnzmr5asydluajg75j46dsdz3m0g5f6hz5z054lnxzda227qqzyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8s6l3q4f **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>29 June 2026<br/><br/>**M82: Galaxy with a Supergalactic Wind**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2606/M82_HubbleWebb_5000.jpg"> <br/><br/>Image Credit: NASA , ESA , CSA , A. Smercina (STScI, Tufts), T. Williams (U. Manchester); Image Processing: A. Pagan (STScI)<br/><br/>Why is the Cigar Galaxy billowing red smoke? M82 , as this starburst galaxy is also known, was stirred up by a recent pass near large spiral galaxy M81 . This doesn&#39;t fully explain the source of the red-glowing outwardly expanding gas and dust, however. Evidence indicates that this gas and dust is being driven out by the combined emerging particle winds of many stars, together creating a galactic superwind . The dust particles are thought to originate in M82&#39;s interstellar medium and are actually similar in size to particles in cigar smoke. The featured photographic mosaic combines images taken in visible light from the Hubble Space Telescope and images taken in infrared light from James Webb Space Telescope . It shows the light-colored central galaxy nearly edge on across the image center with tremendous orange and red colored filaments of gas and dust extending both up and down. The filaments extend for over 10,000 light year s. The 12-million light-year distant Cigar Galaxy is the brightest galaxy in the sky in infrared light and can be seen in visible light with a small telescope towards the constellation of the Great Bear ( Ursa Major ).<br/><br/>#APOD #M82 #CigarGalaxy #SupergalacticWind #StarburstGalaxy #M81<br/><br/><a href="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260629.html">https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260629.html</a><br/> 2026-06-29T04:09:58Z https://nostr.now/nevent1qqs0zq4nxxskaqxjzxutcmnvmsv820nl8agq5x7lc3vxkydxj7tl44szyr59a46jsm9hw36hwmqsql0ccnl3e8rgalu3cd38x3asvhzm7nw8sdu05eq **Astronomy Picture of the Day**<br/><br/>28 June 2026<br/><br/>**AR 4478: Giant Sunspot Group**<br/><br/>Image: <img src="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2606/AR4478_vidal_960.jpg"> <br/><br/>Credit: Not provided<br/><br/>Right now, one of the largest sunspot groups in recent history is crossing the Sun. Active Region 4478 is not only big -- it&#39;s violent, showing tangled magnetic fields capable of throwing off huge clouds of particles into the Solar System . Some of these CME s might impact the Earth. At the extreme, these solar storm s could cause some Earth-orbiting satellites to malfunction , the Earth&#39;s atmosphere to slightly distort, and electrical power grids to surge . When impacting Earth&#39;s upper atmosphere , these particles can produce beautiful auroras . Pictured here, AR 4478 and its dark sunspot s were captured in visible light a few days ago from Barcelona , Spain . Almost as large as AR 3664 was in 2024, the AR 4478 sunspot group is so big that it is visible just with glasses specially designed to view solar eclipse s. This week, skygazing enthusiasts all over the globe will not only be tracking AR 4478 during the day -- but keenly watching night skies for its corresponding bright auroras .<br/><br/>#APOD #SunSpot #SolarStorm #SolarPhysics #SpaceWeather #SolarObservation<br/><br/><a href="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260628.html">https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260628.html</a><br/> 2026-06-28T04:09:34Z