APOD: 2024 March 7 - The Crew-8 Nebula Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2024 March 7 The Crew-8 Nebula Image Credit &Copyright: Michael Seeley Explanation: Not theJames Webb Space Telescope'slatest view of a distant galactic nebula,this cloud of gas and dust dazzledspacecoast skygazers on March 3.The telephoto snapshot was taken minutes after the launch ofa Falcon 9 rocket onthe SpaceX Crew-8 missionto the International Space Station.It captures plumes and exhaust from the separatedfirst and second stages, a driftingRorschach patternin dark evening skies. The bright spot near bottom center within thestunning terrestrial nebulosity isthe second stage engine firing to carry 4humans to spacein the Crew Dragonspacecraft Endeavour.In sharp silhouette just above it is the Falcon 9 first stage booster orienting itself for returnto a landing zoneat Cape Canaveral, planet Earth.This reuseable first stage booster was making its first flight.But theCrew Dragon Endeavourcapsule has flown humans to low Earth orbit and back again 4 times before.Endeavour,as a name for a spacecraft, has also seen reuse, christening retiredSpace Shuttle Endeavourand theApollo 15 command module. Tomorrow's picture: distant galactic nebula <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search|...

Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2024 March 8 The Tarantula Zone Image Credit &Copyright: Processing -Robert GendlerData -Hubble Tarantula Treasury,European Southern Observatory,James Webb Space Telescope,AmateurSources Explanation: The Tarantula Nebula,also known as 30 Doradus, is more than a thousand light-years in diameter,a giant star forming region within nearby satellite galaxy theLarge Magellanic Cloud.About 180 thousand light-years away, it's the largest,most violent star forming region known in the whole LocalGroup of galaxies.The cosmic arachnid sprawls acrossthis magnificent view,an assembly of image data from large space- and ground-based telescopes.Within the Tarantula (NGC 2070),intense radiation, stellar winds, and supernova shocksfrom the central young cluster of massive stars cataloged as R136energize the nebular glow and shape the spidery filaments.Around theTarantula are other star forming regions withyoung star clusters, filaments, and blown-outbubble-shaped clouds.In fact, the frame includes the site of the closest supernova inmodern times, SN 1987A,at lower right.The rich field of view spans about 2 degreesor 4 full moons in the southernconstellation Dorado.But were the Tarantula Nebula closer, say 1,500 light-years distant likethe Milky Way's own star forming Orion Nebula,it would take...

Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2024 March 7 The Crew-8 Nebula Image Credit &Copyright: Michael Seeley Explanation: Not theJames Webb Space Telescope'slatest view of a distant galactic nebula,this cloud of gas and dust dazzledspacecoast skygazers on March 3.The telephoto snapshot was taken minutes after the launch ofa Falcon 9 rocket onthe SpaceX Crew-8 mission,to the International Space Station.It captures plumes and exhaust from the separatedfirst and second stage, a driftingRorschach patternin dark evening skies. The bright spot near bottom center within thestunning terrestrial nebulosity isthe second stage engine firing to carry 4humans to spacein the Crew Dragonspacecraft Endeavour.In sharp silhouette just above it is the Falcon 9 first stage booster orienting itself for returnto a landing zoneat Cape Canaveral, planet Earth.This reuseable first stage booster was making its first flight.But theCrew Dragon Endeavourcapsule has flown humans to low Earth orbit and back again 4 times before.Endeavour,as a name for a spacecraft, has also seen reuse, christening retiredSpace Shuttle Endeavourand theApollo 15 command module. Tomorrow's picture: distant galactic nebula <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education|...

APOD: 2024 March 1 - Odysseus and The Dish Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2024 March 1 Odysseus and The Dish Image Credit &Copyright: John Sarkissian(ATNF Parkes Radio Observatory) Explanation: Murriyang, the CSIRO’s Parkes Radio Telescope,points toward a nearly Full Moon in this imagefrom New South Wales, Australia, planet Earth.Bathed in moonlight, the 64 meter dish isreceiving weak radio signals from Odysseus,following therobotic lander's February 22touch down some300 kilometers north of the Moon's south pole.The landing of Odysseus representsthe first U.S. landing on the Moon since theApollo 17 mission in 1972.Odysseus' tilted orientationon the lunar surface prevents its high-gain antennafrom pointing toward Earth.But the sensitivity of the large, steerable Parkes dishsignificantly improvedthe reception of data from the experiments delivered to thelunar surface by the robotic moon lander.Of course the Parkes Radio Telescope dishbecame famous for its superiorlunar television receptionduring the Apollo 11 mission in 1969,allowing denizens of planet Earth to watchthe first moonwalk. Tomorrow's picture: light-weekend <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Amber StraughnSpecific rights apply.NASA...

Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2024 March 2 Odysseus on the Moon Image Credit: Intuitive Machines Explanation: Methaloxrocket engine firing, Odysseus' landing legs absorbfirst contact with the lunar surface in this wide-angle snapshot froma camera on board the robotic Intuitive MachinesNova-C moon lander.Following thelanding on February 22,broken landing legs,visible in the image,ultimately left the lander at rest but tilted.Odysseus' gentle leaninto a sloping lunar surfacepreserved the phone booth-sized lander'sability to operate, collect solar power, andreturn images and data to Earth.Its exact landing sitein the Moon's far south polar regionwas imaged by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.Donated by NASA,the American flag seen on the lander's central panel is 1970 Apolloprogram flight hardware. Tomorrow's picture: behind the Moon <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Amber StraughnSpecific rights apply.NASA WebPrivacy Policy and Important NoticesA service of:ASD atNASA /GSFC,NASA Science Activation& Michigan Tech. U.

APOD: 2024 February 29 - Julius Caesar and Leap Days Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2024 February 29 Julius Caesar and Leap Days Image Credit &License: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc.,Wikimedia Explanation: In 46 BC Julius Caesar reformed the calendar system.Based on advice by astronomerSosigenes of Alexandria,the Julian calendar included oneleap dayevery four years to account for the fact that an Earthyear is slightly more than 365 days long.In modern terms, the time it takes for the planet to orbit the Sunonce is 365.24219 mean solar days.So if calendar years contained exactly 365 days they would driftfrom the Earth's year by about 1 day every 4 years andeventually July (named forJulius Caesarhimself) would occur during the northern hemisphere winter.By adopting a leap year with an extra day every four years, the Julian calendar year would drift much less.In 1582 Pope Gregory XIII provided the further fine-tuning that leap days should not occur in years ending in 00, unless divisible by 400.This GregorianCalendar system is the one in wide use today.Of course, tidal frictionin the Earth-Moon system slows Earth's rotation and graduallylengthens the day...

Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2024 March 1 Odysseus and The Dish Image Credit &Copyright: John Sarkissian(ATNF Parkes Radio Observatory) Explanation: Murriyang, the CSIRO’s Parkes radio telescopepoints toward a nearly Full Moon in this imagefrom New South Wales, Australia, planet Earth.Bathed in moonlight, the 64 meter dish isreceiving weak radio signals from Odysseus,following therobotic lander's February 22touch down some300 kilometers north of the Moon's south pole.The landing of Odysseus representsthe first U.S. landing on the Moon since theApollo 17 mission in 1972.Odysseus' tilted orientationon the lunar surface prevents its high-gain antennafrom pointing toward Earth.But the sensitivity of the large, steerable Parkes dishsignificantly improvedthe reception of data from the experiments delivered to thelunar surface by the robotic moon lander.Of course the Parkes Radio Telescope dishbecame famous for its superiorlunar television receptionduring the Apollo 11 mission in 1969,allowing denizens of planet Earth to watchthe first moonwalk. Tomorrow's picture: light-weekend <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Amber StraughnSpecific rights apply.NASA WebPrivacy Policy and Important...

Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2024 February 29 Julius Caesar and Leap Days Image Credit &License: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc.,Wikimedia Explanation: In 46 BC Julius Caesar reformed the calendar system.Based on advice by astronomerSosigenes of Alexandria,the Julian calendar included oneleap dayevery four years to account for the fact that an Earthyear is slightly more than 365 days long.In modern terms, the time it takes for the planet to orbit the Sunonce is 365.24219 mean solar days.So if calendar years contained exactly 365 days they would driftfrom the Earth's year by about 1 day every 4 years andeventually July (named forJulius Caesarhimself) would occur during the northern hemisphere winter.By adopting a leap year with an extra day every four years, the Julian calendar year would drift much less.In 1582 Pope Gregory XIII provided the further fine-tuning that leap days should not occur in years ending in 00, unless divisible by 400.This GregorianCalendar system is the one in wide use today.Of course, tidal frictionin the Earth-Moon system slows Earth's rotation and graduallylengthens the day by about 1.4 milliseconds per...

APOD: 2024 February 23 - The Pencil Nebula Supernova Shock Wave Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2024 February 23 The Pencil Nebula Supernova Shock Wave Image Credit &Copyright: Helge Buesing Explanation: This supernova shock wave plows through interstellar space at over 500,000 kilometers per hour.Centered and moving upward in thesharply detailed color compositeits thin, bright, braided filaments are actually long ripples in a cosmic sheet of glowing gas seen almost edge-on.Discovered in the 1840s bySir John Herschel,the narrow-looking nebulais sometimes known as Herschel's Ray.Cataloged as NGC 2736, its pointed appearance suggests its modern popular name, the Pencil Nebula.The Pencil Nebulais about 800 light-years away.Nearly 5 light-years long it represents only a small part of theVela supernova remnant though.The enormous Vela remnant itselfis around 100 light-years in diameter, the expandingdebris cloud of a starthat was seen to explode about 11,000 years ago.Initially, the section of theshock wave seen as the Pencil nebula was movingat millions of kilometersper hour but has slowed considerably, sweeping upsurrounding interstellar material. Tomorrow's picture: light-weekend <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors...

Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2024 February 24 To the Moon Image Credit: Intuitive Machines Explanation: Intuitive Machines'robotic lander Odysseushas accomplished the firstU.S. landing on the Moon since theApollo 17 mission in 1972.Launched on a SpaceX rocket on February 15, the phone booth sizedlander reached lunar orbit on the 21st and toucheddown on the lunar surfaceat 6:23 pm ET on February 22nd.Its landing region is about 300 kilometers north of theMoon's south pole,near a crater designated Malapert A.The lander is presently collecting solar power and transmittingdata back to the Intuitive Machines' mission control center in Houston.The mission marks the first commercial uncrewed landing on the Moon.Prior to landing, Odysseus’ camera capturedthis extreme wide angle image (landing legs visible at right) as it flew overSchomberger cratersome 200 kilometers from its landing site.Odysseus was still about 10 kilometers above the lunar surface. Tomorrow's picture: Phoenix over Iceland <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Amber StraughnSpecific rights apply.NASA WebPrivacy Policy and Important NoticesA service...

APOD: 2024 February 22 - A View Toward M106 Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2024 February 22 A View Toward M106 Image Credit &Copyright: Kyunghoon Lim Explanation: Big, bright, beautiful spiral, Messier 106dominates this cosmic vista.The nearly two degree widetelescopicfield of view looks toward the well-trained constellationCanes Venatici, near the handle of the Big Dipper.Also known as NGC 4258, M106 is about 80,000 light-years across and23.5 million light-years away, the largest member of theCanesII galaxy group.For a far far away galaxy, the distance to M106 is well-knownin part because it can bedirectly measuredby tracking this galaxy's remarkable maser, or microwave laser emission.Very rare but naturally occurring, themaser emissionis produced by water molecules in molecular clouds orbiting itsactive galactic nucleus.Another prominent spiral galaxy on the scene, viewed nearlyedge-on,is NGC 4217 below and right of M106.The distance to NGC 4217 is much less well-known, estimatedto be about 60 million light-years, but the brightspikystars are in the foreground, well inside our own Milky Way galaxy. Tomorrow's picture: pencils in space <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors &...

Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2024 February 23 The Pencil Nebula Supernova Shock Wave Image Credit &Copyright: Helge Buesing Explanation: This supernova shock wave plows through interstellar space at over 500,000 kilometers per hour.Centered and moving upward in thesharply detailed color compositeits thin, bright, braided filaments are actually long ripples in a cosmic sheet of glowing gas seen almost edge-on.Discovered in the 1840s bySir John Herschel,the narrow-looking nebulais sometimes known as Herschel's Ray.Cataloged as NGC 2736, its pointed appearance suggests its modern popular name, the Pencil Nebula.The Pencil Nebulais about 800 light-years away.Nearly 5 light-years long it represents only a small part of theVela supernova remnant though.The enormous Vela remnant itselfis around 100 light-years in diameter, the expandingdebris cloud of a starthat was seen to explode about 11,000 years ago.Initially, the section of theshock wave seen as the Pencil nebula was movingat millions of kilometersper hour but has slowed considerably, sweeping upsurrounding interstellar material. Tomorrow's picture: light-weekend <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell...

Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2024 February 22 A View Toward M106 Image Credit &Copyright: Kyunghoon Lim Explanation: Big, bright, beautiful spiral, Messier 106dominates this cosmic vista.The nearly two degree widetelescopicfield of view looks toward the well-trained constellationCanes Venatici, near the handle of the Big Dipper.Also known as NGC 4258, M106 is about 80,000 light-years across and23.5 million light-years away, the largest member of theCanesII galaxy group.For a far far away galaxy, the distance to M106 is well-knownin part because it can bedirectly measuredby tracking this galaxy's remarkable maser, or microwave laser emission.Very rare but naturally occurring, themaser emissionis produced by water molecules in molecular clouds orbiting itsactive galactic nucleus.Another prominent spiral galaxy on the scene, viewed nearlyedge-on,is NGC 4217 below and right of M106.The distance to NGC 4217 is much less well-known, estimatedto be about 60 million light-years, but the brightspikystars are in the foreground, well inside our own Milky Way galaxy. Tomorrow's picture: pixels in space <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry...

APOD: 2024 February 16 - Structure in the Tail of Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2024 February 16 Structure in the Tail of Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks Image Credit &Copyright: Dan Bartlett` Explanation: Heading for its next perihelion passage on April 21,Comet 12P/Pons-Brooksis growing brighter.The greenish coma of this periodic Halley-type comethas become relatively easy to observe in small telescopes.But thebluish ion tailnow streaming from the active comet's coma and buffeted by the solar wind, is faint and difficult to follow.Still,in this imagestacked exposures made on the night of February 11reveal the fainter tail's detailed structures.The frame spans over two degrees across abackground of faint stars and background galaxiestoward the northern constellation Lacerta.Of courseComet 12P's April 21 perihelion passage will be onlytwo weeks after the April 8 total solar eclipse, puttingthe comet in planet Earth's sky along with atotally eclipsed Sun. Tomorrow's picture: light-weekend <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Amber StraughnSpecific rights apply.NASA WebPrivacy Policy and Important NoticesA service of:ASD atNASA /GSFC,NASA Science Activation& Michigan...

Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2024 February 17 Meteor over the Bay of Naples Image Credit &Copyright: Wang Letian (Eyes at Night) Explanation: A cosmic dust grain plowing throughthe upper atmosphere much faster thana falling leafcreated this brilliantmeteor streak.In a serendipitous moment, the sublime night sky view wascaptured from the resort island of Capri, in the Bay of Naples,on the evening of February 8.Looking across the bay, the camera faces northeast towardthe lights of Naples and surrounding cities.Pointing toward the horizon, themeteor streakby chance ends above the silhouette of Mount Vesuvius.One of planet Earth's most famous volcanos, an eruption ofMount Vesuviusdestroyed the city of Pompeiiin 79 AD. Tomorrow's picture: nearly perfect <| Archive| Submissions | Index| Search| Calendar| RSS| Education| About APOD| Discuss| > Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Amber StraughnSpecific rights apply.NASA WebPrivacy Policy and Important NoticesA service of:ASD atNASA /GSFC,NASA Science Activation& Michigan Tech. U.