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.
Kepler's Streak
Streaking skyward , a Delta II rocket carries NASA's Kepler spacecraft aloft into the clear night of March 6. The dramatic scene was recorded in a time exposure from the crowded…
Gibbous Europa
Although the phase of this moon might appear familiar, the moon itself might not. In fact, this gibbous phase shows part of Jupiter 's moon Europa . The robot spacecraft Galileo…
Comet Lulin and Distant Galaxies
Now fading in our night sky, Comet Lulin has provided some lovely cosmic vistas . Moving rapidly against the background of stars , Lulin briefly posed with the likes of Saturn ,…
Crescent Moon and Venus
Last Friday, the Moon and Venus shared the early evening sky in a beautiful conjunction. Separated by only about 2 degrees, they also were both in a crescent phase . Just like our…
IC 5146: The Cocoon Nebula
Inside the Cocoon Nebula is a newly developing cluster of stars. Cataloged as IC 5146 , the beautiful nebula is nearly 15 light-years wide, located some 4,000 light years away…
Saturn in View
Very good telescopic views of Saturn can be expected in the coming days as the ringed planet nears opposition on March 8th, its closest approach to Earth in 2009. Of course,…
The Helix Nebula from La Silla Observatory
Will our Sun look like this one day? The Helix Nebula is one of brightest and closest examples of a planetary nebula , a gas cloud created at the end of the life of a Sun-like…
Earthgrazer: The Great Daylight Fireball of 1972
What is that streaking across the sky? A bright earthgrazing meteor. In 1972, an unusually bright meteor from space was witnessed bouncing off Earth's atmosphere, much like a…
Omega Centauri: The Largest Nearby Globular Cluster
This huge ball of stars predates our Sun. Long before humankind evolved, before dinosaurs roamed , and even before our Earth existed, ancient globs of stars condensed and orbited…
NGC 2442: Galaxy in Volans
Distorted galaxy NGC 2442 can be found in the southern constellation of the flying fish , (Piscis) Volans . Located about 50 million light-years away, the galaxy's two spiral arms…
Lulin and Saturn near Opposition
Tracking through the constellation Leo on February 23rd, bright planet Saturn and Comet Lulin were both near opposition -- opposite the Sun in planet Earth's sky. They also passed…
Moon, Mercury, Jupiter, Mars
When the Moon rose in predawn skies on February 23rd, it sported a sunlit crescent. It also offered early morning risers a tantalizing view of earthshine , the dark portion of the…
Two Tails of Comet Lulin
Go outside tonight and see Comet Lulin. From a dark location, you should need only a good star map and admirable perseverance -- although wide-field binoculars might help.…
Barnard's Loop around the Horsehead Nebula
Why is the Horsehead Nebula surrounded by a bubble? Although hard to make out, the famous Horsehead Nebula is the slight dark indentation in the bright streak just to the left of…
An Etruscan Vase Moon Rising
What's happened to the Moon? Nothing, although from some locations, February's full moon, which occurred about two weeks ago, appeared strangely distorted as it rose. Visible in…
Orion Nebula: The Hubble View
Few cosmic vistas excite the imagination like the Orion Nebula . Also known as M42 , the nebula's glowing gas surrounds hot young stars at the edge of an immense interstellar…
The Swift View of Comet Lulin
Now growing brighter, Comet Lulin is headed for its closest approach to planet Earth early next week. But the comet's greenish glow , familiar to earthbound skygazers , is…
Snake in the Dark
Dark nebulae snake across a gorgeous expanse of stars in this telescopic view toward the pronounceable constellation Ophiuchus and the center of our Milky Way Galaxy. In fact, the…
Mauna Kea Milky Way Panorama
Aloha and welcome to a breathtaking skyscape. The dreamlike panoramic view looks out from the 4,200 meter volcanic summit of Mauna Kea , Hawai'i, across a layer of clouds toward a…
Satellites Collide in Low Earth Orbit
How often do satellites collide? Although minuscule space debris may strike any satellite on occasion, the first known collision between time two full satellites occurred only…
Unusual Red Glow Over Minnesota
What in heaven's blazes is that? When landing in Minneapolis , Minnesota , USA in 2002, just before his flight ascended above cloud level in the early evening, passenger Tyler…
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…
Antarctic Ice Shelf Vista
It's all gone but the mountains. Most of the sprawling landscape of ice that lies between the mountains visible above has now disintegrated. The above picture was taken in…
IC 1805: The Heart Nebula
Sprawling across almost 200 light-years, emission nebula IC 1805 is a mix of glowing interstellar gas and dark dust clouds. Derived from its Valentine's-Day-approved shape, its…
Viewing discoveries from 9 March 2009 through 14 February 2009.