Browse NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day archive by date and media: Archive Discoveries
Browse the NASA APOD archive without needing the exact date first. Filter by media type and keep moving deeper into older images and videos.
Supernova Survivor
Beginning with a full view of beautiful spiral galaxy M81 , follow the insets (left, bottom, then right) to zoom in on a real survivor. Seen at the center of the final field on…
M64: The Sleeping Beauty Galaxy
The Sleeping Beauty galaxy may appear peaceful at first sight but it is actually tossing and turning. In an unexpected twist, recent observations have shown that the gas in the…
Unusual Spherules on Mars
What are those unusual spherules on Mars? The Mars Opportunity rover has now photographed several unusual nodules on Mars that have a nearly spherical shape. Many times these…
Announcing Comet C/2002 T7 (LINEAR)
A newly discovered comet may outshine most stars in the sky by May. Designated Comet C/2002 T7 (LINEAR) , the comet was discovered in 2002 October by project LINEAR . Many reports…
In the Center of the Omega Nebula
In the depths of the dark clouds of dust and molecular gas known as the Omega Nebula , stars continue to form. The above image from the Hubble Space Telescope 's Advanced Camera…
NGC 6369: The Little Ghost Nebula
This pretty planetary nebula, cataloged as NGC 6369 , was discovered by 18th century astronomer William Herschel as he used a telescope to explore the medicinal constellation…
Magnified Mars
At first glance, this sharp, color close-up gives the strong impression of pebbles strewn over a sandy beach. But the picture is one of the first microscopic images of another…
NGC 1569: Starburst in a Small Galaxy
Grand spiral galaxies often seem to get all the glory, flaunting their young, bright, blue star clusters in beautiful, symmetric spiral arms. But small, irregular galaxies form…
Opportunity's Horizon
Remarkably, the Opportunity Mars rover lies in a small martian impact crater about 3 meters deep and 22 meters wide. For 360 degrees, Opportunity's horizon stretches to the right…
X-Rays From Antennae Galaxies
A bevy of black holes and neutron stars shine as bright, point-like sources against bubbles of million degree gas in this false-color x-ray image from the orbiting Chandra…
The Tarantula Nebula from Spitzer
In the heart of monstrous Tarantula Nebula lies one of the most unusual star clusters . Known as NGC 2070 or R136 , it is home to a great number of hot young stars . The energetic…
M2-9: Wings of a Butterfly Nebula
Are stars better appreciated for their art after they die? Actually, stars usually create their most artistic displays as they die. In the case of low-mass stars like our Sun and…
A Galaxy is not a Comet
This gorgeous galaxy and comet portrait was recorded on April 5th, 2002, in the skies over the Oriental Pyrenees near Figueres, Spain . From a site above 1,100 meters,…
X-Ray Rings Expand from a Gamma Ray Burst
Why do x-ray rings appear to emanate from a gamma-ray burst? The surprising answer has little to do with the explosion itself but rather with light reflected off sheets of dust…
Valles Marineris Perspective from Mars Express
Europe's Mars Express satellite has started returning detailed color images of the red planet. The first of the current armada to arrive at Mars , the orbiting satellite will…
The Crab Nebula from CFHT
This is the mess that is left when a star explodes. The Crab Nebula , the result of a supernova seen in 1054 AD , is filled with mysterious filaments. The filaments are not only…
Opportunity on Mars
You've just woken up in a small crater on Mars. The surrounding landscape is barren, strange, and alien. You've never been on this world before. You transmit pictures that are…
A Landing at Meridiani Planum
After an interplanetary journey of nearly 300 million miles, Opportunity bounced down on the martian surface at about 9:05 pm PST Saturday, its final plunge cushioned by airbags .…
Spiral Galaxy NGC 1232
Galaxies are fascinating not only for what is visible, but for what is invisible. Grand spiral galaxy NGC 1232 , captured in detail by one of the new Very Large Telescopes , is a…
Valles Marineris from Mars Express
Looking down from orbit on January 14, ESA's Mars Express spacecraft scanned a 1700 by 65 kilometer swath across Valles Marineris - the Grand Canyon of Mars - with its remarkable…
NGC 4631: The Whale Galaxy
NGC 4631 is a big beautiful spiral galaxy seen edge-on only 25 million light-years away towards the small northern constellation Canes Venatici . This galaxy's slightly distorted…
Columbia Memorial Station
After leaving its nest, the Spirit rover turned to capture this spectacular view over the Columbia Memorial Station and the floor of Gusev crater on the 16th sol of its visit to…
Adirondack Rock on Mars
Is this a great pyramid on Mars? Actually, the pictured rock dubbed Adirondack has an irregular shape, is only about the size of a football , and has formed by natural processes .…
Unexpected Galaxy String in the Early Universe
How could such a long string of galaxies form so early in the universe? Several new measurements of galaxies and clusters in the early universe are reporting structures involving…
Viewing discoveries from 12 February 2004 through 20 January 2004.