2019 November 2 Inside the Flame Nebula Image Credit & Copyright: Optical: DSS; Infrared: NASA/JPL-Caltech; X-ray: NASA/CXC/PSU/ K.Getman, E.Feigelson, M.Kuhn & the MYStIX team Explanation: The Flame Nebula stands out in this optical image of the dusty, crowded star forming regions toward Or […]
2019 November 1 The Day After Mars Image Credit & Copyright: Rolando Ligustri (CARA Project, CAST) Explanation: October 31, 1938 was the day after Martians encountered planet Earth, and everything was calm. Reports of the invasion were revealed to be part of a Halloween radio drama, the now famo
2019 October 31 The Ghostly Veil Nebula Image Credit & Copyright: Anis Abdul Explanation: A ghostly visage on a cosmic scale, these remains of shocked, glowing gas haunt planet Earth’s sky toward the constellation of Cygnus and form the Veil Nebula. The nebula itself is a large supernova
2019 October 30 M42: Inside the Orion Nebula Image Credit & Copyright: Josep M. Drudis & Don Goldman Explanation: The Great Nebula in Orion, an immense, nearby starbirth region, is probably the most famous of all astronomical nebulas. Here, glowing gas surrounds hot young stars at the edge o
2019 October 29 Curiosity Rover Finds a Clay Cache on Mars Image Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, MSSS Explanation: Why is there clay on Mars? On Earth, clay can form at the bottom of a peaceful lake when specific minerals trap water. At the pictured site on Mars, the robotic rover Curiosity drilled into
2019 October 28 The Space Station Crosses a Spotless Sun Image Credit & Copyright: Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau Explanation: Typically, the International Space Station is visible only at night. Slowly drifting across the night sky as it orbits the Earth, the International Space Station (ISS) can b
2019 October 27 Ghost Aurora over Canada Image Credit & Copyright: Yuichi Takasaka, TWAN Explanation: What does this aurora look like to you? While braving the cold to watch the skies above northern Canada early one morning in 2013, a most unusual aurora appeared. The aurora definitely appeared
2019 October 25 The Ghosts of Cassiopeia Image Credit & Copyright: Tommaso Stella Explanation: These bright rims and flowing shapes look ghostly on a cosmic scale. A telescopic view toward the constellation Cassiopeia, the colorful skyscape features swept-back, comet-shaped clouds IC 59 (left) a
2019 October 24 Dark Seahorse in Cepheus Image Credit & Copyright: Sergio Kaminsky Explanation: Light-years across, this suggestive shape known as the Seahorse Nebula appears in silhouette against a rich, luminous background of stars. Seen toward the royal northern constellation of Cepheus, the
