Tag: NASA picture of the day

Technology

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day 5 February 2023: Saturn moon shining bright

Recently, Jupiter took the crown of the planet with the most moons in our solar system away from Saturn. Saturn used to be on top with a total of as many as 83 moons. Now, Jupiter has been crowned with a whopping 92! However, if scientists are right, then Saturn will regain the title as they have found more moons circling the planet! Among the moons of Saturn, and one of the brightest, is Enceladus. And it has been featured in the NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day today. In fact, this moon is shining bright by the light of its planet. NASA explains that a large portion of Enceladus pictured here is illuminated primarily by sunlight first reflected from the planet Saturn. Resultantly, it shows the normally snow-white moon appearing in the gold colour of Saturn's cloud tops. ...
Technology

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day 4 February 2023: A nebula-3200 light years away

Nebula is nothing but the beginning of a star! How? NASA explains that Nebulae are composed of dust and gaseous matter, primarily hydrogen and helium. Despite being dispersed, gravity can cause clumps of dust and gas to converge over time, leading to increased gravitational pull. Once these clumps become substantial, they collapse under their own gravity, heating up the central material and forming the beginnings of a star.Today's NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day is NGC 2626, a beautiful, bright, blue reflection nebula in the southern Milky Way which is centered in this colourful cosmic canvas. NGC 2626 is located near a dusty cloud and encircled by reddish hydrogen emissions from the H II region RCW 27. It is part of a group of dusty molecular clouds called the Vela Molecular Ridg...
Technology

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day 29 January 2023: An eerie hole in the sky

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day 29 January 2023 is a dreadful dark molecular cloud. What is it? Find out. NASA takes you on a quick virtual tour of different places in the deep cosmos on a daily basis. Today, the space agency has shared a dreadful image in which stars have mysteriously disappeared from the centre. It looks like there is a hole in the sky! Where did all the stars go? NASA explained that it is a dark molecular cloud. NASA says that it is known as Barnard 68, which is one of the most notable dark absorption nebulae in the direction of the constellation Ophiuchus.“Here, a high concentration of dust and molecular gas absorbs practically all the visible light emitted from background stars. The eerily dark surroundings help make the interiors of molecular clouds some of t...
Technology

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day 28 January 2023: Comet ZTF over Mount Etna

NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day for 28 January, 2023 snaps a breathtaking image of Comet ZTF over Mount Etna. The magnificent green Comet ZTF is all set for its closest approach to Earth after 50000 years. Astronomy enthusiasts are sharing amazing pictures and other information about Comet C/2022 E3 ZTF as it gets closer. In the past few weeks, US space agency NASA itself has shown a few glimpses of Comet E3. Now, NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day for January 28 brings a breathtaking view of the Comet ZTF over Mount Etna.“Comet-like plumes are blowing over the volcanic peaks of Mount Etna in this wintry mountain-and-skyscape from planet Earth. The stacked and blended combination of individual exposures recorded during the cold night of January 23, also capture naked-eye Comet ZTF...
Technology

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day 22 January 2023: Breathtaking aurora over Norway

NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day for 22 January, 2023 is a stunning view of aurora over Norway after a solar flare slammed into Erath. The Sun just can't keep calm these days! The constant activity on the Sun is unleashing solar flares that are causing magnetic storms when they impact Earth. The most fascinating impact of these fierce solar flares are auroras! The Sun passed the solar minimum of its 11-year cycle only a few years ago, but the surface activity is picking up and already triggering more spectacular auroras here on Earth. However, this spectacular image shared by NASA as its Astronomy Picture of the Day for 22 January, is from 2014- it is of a breathtaking view of an aurora over Norway. NASA explained it this way, “Raise your arms if you see an aurora. ...
Technology

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day 21 January 2023: Comet ZTF in all its glory!

NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day for 21 January, 2023 is none other than Comet ZTF, which is heading for a rendezvous with Earth in February. The rare green comet, which is heading for a rendezvous with Earth soon, is all over the news! This rare comet C2022 E3 ZTF was at perihelion, its closest to the Sun, on January 12. What makes it an interesting celestial object is that it makes a once-in-50000-year appearance. But don't worry, Perigee, which is the comet's closest approach to our Earth, will be on February 1. It is a golden opportunity to watch it. Today, it has been shared by NASA as its Astronomy Picture of the Day.“Comet C/2022E3 (ZTF) is no longer too dim to require a telescope for viewing. By January 19, it could just be seen with the naked eye in this rural sky with li...
Technology

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day 15 January 2023: Hubble Telescope snaps spooky Crab Nebula

NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day for 15 January, 2023 is one of a spooky Crab Nebula image captured by the Hubble Telescope. NASA Astronomy picture of the day takes everyone into a fascinatingly different dimension of the cosmos on a daily basis. Today, it took an eerie turn with a an image of a Crab Nebula! “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,” NASA explained about the images. The filaments in the image are not only tremendously complex, but appear to have less mass than expelled in the original supernova and a higher speed than expected from a free explosion.This image has been captured by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, while the surprising fact is that the Crab Nebul...
Technology

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day 21 December 2022: Stunning! December Solstice is here

The Sun’s path appears farthest north or south, depending on which half of the planet you are on during the solstice. NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day 21 December 2022: During the Earth's trip around the Sun, solstices come around twice a year. The summer solstice begins around June 21 whereas the December solstice arrives on December 21. Solstices also mark the change of seasons throughout the year. The first day of the December Solstice, also known as the Winter Solstice marks the day where the Sun is at its Southernmost position in the sky, which is approximately 23.5 degrees South. No matter where you're looking from, the Sun will always be visible at that position. NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day is a stunning snapshot of Sun's Halo captured at the beginning of the Decem...