NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day

Recent Episodes

2026 January 16 - NGC 7023: The Iris Nebula

Posted January 16, 2026 • 00:04:03

In today's image, we see the reflection nebula known as the Iris Nebula. The blue light is caused by reflection of starlight off of dust grains.

2026 January 15 - Plato and the Lunar Alps

Posted January 15, 2026 • 00:03:56

In today's image, we see a small region of the Moon showing the large, flooded crater named Plato as well as the mountains of the lunar alps.

2026 January 14 - M51: The Whirlpool Galaxy

Posted January 14, 2026 • 00:03:26

In today's image, we see the galaxy known at the Whirlpool Galaxy - a galaxy relatively close to our Milky Way showing prominent spiral arms possibly...

2026 January 13 - A Solar Eruption from SDO

Posted January 13, 2026 • 00:04:38

In today's image, we see a coronal mass ejection as imaged by the Solar Dynamics Observatory. This is an eruption of material from the solar surface,...

2026 January 12 - Meteor Dust

Posted January 12, 2026 • 00:03:50

In today's image, we see dust drifting away from a meteor in this image taken during the Geminid meteor shower last month.

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