APOD: 2023 October 2 Б Sprite Lightning in High Definition
2.10.2023

Sometimes lightning occurs out near space. One such lightning type is red sprite lightning, which has only been photographed and studied on Earth over the past 25 years. The origins of all types of lightning remain topics for research, and scientists are still trying to figure out why red sprite lightning occurs at all.

APOD: 2023 October 31 Б Halloween and the Wizard Nebula
31.10.2023

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 / equal night) and a solstice (minimum day / maximum night in the northern hemisphere).

APOD: 2024 May 20 Б Aurora Dome Sky
20.05.2024

It seemed like night, but part of the sky glowed purple. It was the now famous night of May 10, 2024, when people over much of the world reported beautiful aurora-filled skies. The featured image was captured this night during early morning hours from Arlington, Wisconsin, USA.

APOD: 2025 August 19 Б Giant Galaxies in Pavo
19.08.2025

Over 500,000 light years across, NGC 6872 (bottom left) is a truly enormous barred spiral galaxy. At least 5 times the size of our own large Milky Way, NGC 6872 is the largest known spiral galaxy.

APOD: 2025 November 24 Б Apep: Unusual Dust Shells from Webb
24.11.2025

What created this unusual space sculpture? Stars. This unusual system of swirls and shells, known as Apep, was observed in unprecedentedбdetail by NASAБs James Webb Space Telescope in infrared light in 2024. Observations indicate...

APOD: 2026 June 11 Б The Mermaid Nebula Supernova Remnant
11.06.2026

Could the Little Mermaid turn into stardust instead of seafoam? It would seem so in this beautiful nebula. The featured image shows the Mermaid Nebula, also known as the Betta Fish Nebula, which is part of the G296.5+10.0 Supernova Remnant.

APOD: 2023 January 9 Б Tails of Comet ZTF
9.01.2023

Comet ZTF may become visible to the unaided eye. Discovered early last year, this massive snowball has been brightening as it approaches the Sun and the Earth. C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will be closest...

APOD: 2023 January 10 Б NGC 2264: The Cone Nebula
10.01.2023

Stars are forming in the gigantic dust pillar called the Cone Nebula. Cones, pillars, and majestic flowing shapes abound in stellar nurseries where clouds of gas and dust are sculpted by energetic winds from newborn stars. The Cone Nebula, a well-known example, lies within the bright galactic star-forming region NGC 2264.

APOD: 2024 October 21 Б Comet Tsuchinshan ATLAS over California
21.10.2024

The tails of Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS were a sight to behold. Pictured, C/2023 A3 (TsuchinshanБATLAS) was captured near peak impressiveness last week over the Eastern Sierra Mountains in California, USA. The comet not only showed a bright tail, but a distinct anti-tail pointing in nearly the opposite direction.

APOD: 2025 December 2 Б M77: Spiral Galaxy with an Active Center
2.12.2025

What's happening in the center of nearby spiral galaxy M77? The face-on galaxy lies a mere 47 million light-years away toward the constellation of the Sea Monster (Cetus). At that estimated distance, this gorgeous island universe is about 100 thousand light-years across.