Browse NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day archive by date and media: Archive Discoveries
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NGC 6888: The Crescent Nebula
What caused the Crescent Nebula? Looking like an emerging space cocoon , the Crescent Nebula, visible in the center of the above image , was created by the brightest star in its…
A Tale of Comet Holmes
A beautiful blue ion tail has become visible in deep telescopic images of Comet Holmes . Pointing generally away from the Sun and also planet Earth, the comet's ion tail is…
Skyscape with Comet Holmes
This gorgeous skyscape spans some 10 degrees across the heroic constellation Perseus , about the size of a generous binocular field of view. The deep exposure includes bright…
VERITAS and Venus
Early morning risers and late to bed astronomers have recently enjoyed bright planets in predawn skies, with brilliant Venus above the eastern horizon. On November 5, Venus was…
The Sloan Great Wall: Largest Known Structure?
What is the largest structure known? The answer might depend on how one defines “structure.” A grouping of galaxies known as the Sloan Great Wall was discovered in the Sloan…
An X Class Flare Region on the Sun
Why does the Sun flare? Unpredictably, our Sun unleashes tremendous flares expelling hot gas into the Solar System that can affect satellites, astronauts, and power grids on…
Comet Holmes Grows a Tail
Comet Holmes continues to be an impressive sight to the unaided eye. The comet has diminished in brightness only slightly , and now clearly appears to have a larger angular extent…
The Closest Galaxy: Canis Major Dwarf
What is the closest galaxy to the Milky Way? The new answer to this old question is the Canis Major dwarf galaxy . For many years astronomers thought the Large Magellan Cloud…
Golden Comet Holmes
Surprising Comet Holmes remains easily visible as a round, fuzzy cloud in the northern constellation Perseus . Skywatchers with telescopes, binoculars, or those that just decide…
Three Nebulae in Narrow Band
Narrow band filters and a false-color palette give these three nebulae a stunning appearance against the cosmic canvas of the central Milky Way . All three are stellar nurseries…
Peculiar Arp 87
A cosmic bridge of stars, gas, and dust stretches for over 75,000 light-years and joins this peculiar pair of galaxies cataloged as Arp 87 . The bridge is strong evidence that…
Halloween and the Ghost Head Nebula
Halloween's origin is ancient and astronomical. Since the fifth century BC, Halloween has been celebrated as a cross-quarter day , a day halfway between an equinox (equal day /…
Comet Holmes' Coma Expands
Go outside tonight and see Comet Holmes . No binoculars or telescopes are needed -- just curiosity and a sky map . Last week, Comet 17P/Holmes underwent an unusual outburst that…
A Telescopic View of Erupting Comet Holmes
What's happened to Comet Holmes? A normally docile comet discovered over 100 years ago, Comet 17P/Holmes suddenly became nearly one million times brighter last week, possibly over…
Noctilucent Clouds Over Sweden
Sometimes it'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…
The Great Carina Nebula
A jewel of the southern sky , the Great Carina Nebula , aka NGC 3372, spans over 300 light-years, one of our galaxy's largest star forming regions. Like the smaller, more…
Comet Holmes in Outburst
Comet 17P/Holmes stunned comet watchers across planet Earth earlier this week. On October 24, it increased in brightness over half a million times in a matter of hours. The…
Apogee Moon, Perigee Moon
Tonight, those blessed with clear skies can enjoy a glorious Full Moon , (exact full phase at 0452 UT, October 26). In fact, the Moon will reach its full phase within a few hours…
Ring Scan
Scroll right and cruise above the thin, icy rings of Saturn . This high resolution scan is a mosaic of images presented in natural color and recorded in May, over about 2.5 hours…
Crescent Saturn
Saturn never shows a crescent phase -- from Earth. But when viewed from beyond, the majestic giant planet can show an unfamiliar diminutive sliver. This image of crescent Saturn…
Victoria Crater on Mars
Scroll right to see the largest crater yet visited by a rover on Mars. Reaching the expansive Victoria Crater has been a goal for the robotic Opportunity rover rolling across Mars…
Will the Universe End in a Big Rip?
How will our universe end? Recent speculation now includes a pervasive growing field of mysterious repulsive phantom energy that rips virtually everything apart. Although the…
The Milky Road
Inspired during a visit to Fort Davis, Texas, home of McDonald Observatory and dark night skies, photographer Larry Landolfi created this tantalizing fantasy view. The composited…
IC 5067 in the Pelican Nebula
The prominent ridge of emission featured in this dramatic skyscape is cataloged as IC 5067 . Part of a larger emission nebula with a distinctive shape, popularly called The…
Viewing discoveries from 11 November 2007 through 19 October 2007.