First All-Sky Infrared Maps | NASA's SPHEREx Space Observatory

First All-Sky Infrared Maps | NASA's SPHEREx Space Observatory

This figure features only the wavelengths emitted by the prominent red clouds of a type of cosmic dust known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and bubbles of hydrogen gas (blue). Both of these materials are a common ingredient in the formation of stars and planets.

This figure features wavelengths of light emitted by the millions of stars and galaxies SPHEREx can observe. The wavelengths emitted by the dust and hot gas are removed to make the stars and galaxies more visible.

NASA’s Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer (SPHEREx) observatory, the size of a compact car, utilizes a wide-field aluminum telescope. It recently completed its first infrared map of the entire sky in 102 colors using observations made between May and December 2025. A small selection of the 102 infrared colors the observatory can detect are featured in all-sky mosaics shown here.

Infrared colors are invisible to the human eye but are represented here in visible colors. The first image is dominated by infrared colors emitted by hot hydrogen gas (blue), and cosmic dust (red), but the image also includes infrared colors selected to highlight the presence of stars (blue, green, and white). The bright feature running through the middle of the images is the Milky Way galaxy, lit up by the billions of stars it contains. Most of the points of light above and below it are other galaxies.

In order to make the file sizes smaller, the spatial resolution of these images has been reduced to 0.1% of the full-resolution SPHEREx data images.

SPHEREx is NASA’s newest space telescope that “will observe hundreds of millions of galaxies and other objects during its two-year mission, mapping the cosmos in wavelengths invisible to the human eye”.

The SPHEREx mission is managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory for the agency’s Astrophysics Division within the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. BAE Systems (formerly Ball Aerospace) built the telescope and the spacecraft bus. The science analysis of the SPHEREx data is being conducted by a team of scientists located at 10 institutions in the U.S., two in South Korea, and one in Taiwan. Data is processed and archived at IPAC at Caltech. The mission’s principal investigator is based at Caltech with a joint JPL appointment. The SPHEREx dataset will be publicly available at the NASA-IPAC Infrared Science Archive. Caltech manages JPL for NASA.

For more about SPHEREx, visit: https://science.nasa.gov/mission/spherex/

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Release Date: Dec. 18, 2025

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Stars #Galaxies #3DMapping #SPHEREx #SpaceTelescopes #InfraredAstronomy #Cosmos #Universe #JPL #Caltech #STScI #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

Xi's New Year Message Inspires Shenzhou-21 Astronauts | China Space Station

Xi's New Year Message Inspires Shenzhou-21 Astronauts | China Space Station

China launched the Shenzhou-21 crewed spacecraft on Nov 1, 2025, sending the three astronauts to its space station for a six-month mission. The Shenzhou-21 crew consists of mission commander Zhang Lu, and astronauts Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang. These three astronauts serve as space pilot, flight engineer and payload specialist, respectively, representing all three categories of Chinese astronauts currently being applied in the country's space endeavors.

The Shenzhou-21 crew members said that they will take practical actions and make new contributions to building China a space power.

"We watched President Xi's New Year message at the space station. He mentioned that 'we integrated science and technology deeply with industries, and made a stream of new innovations', which greatly inspired us and strengthened our aspirations and determination to explore the vast cosmos and build China into a space power. We will live up to our mission, forge ahead with courage, and make new contributions to building China a space power," said Zhang Lu.

"Over the past two months in orbit, we conducted our first extravehicular activity and have been advancing a series of space experiments. As an astronaut being in space for the first time, every day in space is a part of growth. In the remaining time in orbit, I will complete every task diligently and live up to the trust by my country and people," said Wu.

"For the first time, I'm welcoming the New Year in space. I'm always grateful to my great motherland when gazing at the blue Earth and the dazzling starry sky through the porthole. I will hone the tasks for excellence, ensuring absolute safety every day and every second in orbit, and write a proud new chapter in space exploration," said Zhang Hongzhang.

Shenzhou-21 Crew
Zhang Lu (张陆) - Commander & Pilot - 2nd spaceflight
Wu Fei (武飞)  Flight Engineer - 1st spaceflight
Zhang Hong Zhang (张洪章) - Payload Specialist - 1st spaceflight

Video Credit: CCTV
Duration: 1 minute, 22 seconds
Release Date: Jan. 2, 2025

#NASA #Space #Science #China #中国 #Shenzhou21Mission #神舟二十一号 #Shenzhou21 #NewYearWishes #HappyNewYear2026 #Taikonauts #Astronauts #ZhangLu #WuFei #ZhangHongzhang #ChinaSpaceStation #中国空间站 #TiangongSpaceStation #SpaceLaboratory #CMSA #中国载人航天工程办公室 #HumanSpaceflight #STEM #Education #HD #Video

C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) & The Andromeda Galaxy: Wide-field View from Austria

C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) & The Andromeda Galaxy: Wide-field View from Austria

Can you spot the comet? 
Hint: Zoom-in on the upper portion of this high-resolution image to find it . . .

C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) is an Oort cloud comet first seen in May 2025. It is one of many comets discovered by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) that was developed by the University of Hawaii and funded by NASA.

Image Credit: Georg Klingersberger

Capture Location: Kobernaußen, Upper Austria
Image Details: 20:17-21:07 UT., 74 x 30 sec., FSQ 106 ED F/3.6, Canon EOS RP Full ISO 3200, Moon 50%

Image Date: Dec. 27, 2025

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Comets #CometC2025K1ATLAS #Coma #CometaryTails #OortCloud #SolarSystem #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #Astrophotography #Astrophotographers #GeorgKlingersberger #Austria #Europe #STEM #Education

Comet C/2025 K1 ATLAS: View from New Mexico

Comet C/2025 K1 ATLAS: View from New Mexico

C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) is an Oort cloud comet first seen in May 2025. It is one of many comets discovered by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) that was developed by the University of Hawaii and funded by NASA.

New Mexico is a state in the Southwestern region of the United States. It is one of the Mountain States of the southern Rocky Mountains, sharing the Four Corners region with Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. It also borders the state of Texas to the east and southeast, Oklahoma to the northeast, and shares an international border with the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Sonora to the south.

Image Credit: Rolando Ligustri

Image Details: Newton 300/1140 CCD ASI2600MM bin2 RGB=2x120s L=8x120s, New Mexico Telescope Network

Rolando's Website: 

https://www.facebook.com/astrottica

Image Date: Dec. 26, 2025

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Comets #CometC2025K1ATLAS #Coma #CometaryTails #OortCloud #SolarSystem #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #Astrophotography #Astrophotographers #RolandoLigustri #NewMexico #USA #STEM #Education

Planet Mars: Of Wind, Time & Gullies | NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

Planet Mars: Of Wind, Time & Gullies | NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

The objective of this observation is to look for changes over several Mars years (one Mars year is equivalent to two years on Earth) of any recurring slope lineae. This location is near the central peak of Loshe Crater, to the east of Argyre Planitia. It is 156 km in diameter and was named after Oswald Lohse, a German astronomer (1845-1915). 

Argyre Planitia is a plain located within the impact basin Argyre in the southern highlands of Mars. Its name comes from a map produced by Giovanni Schiaparelli in 1877; it refers to Argyre, a mythical island of silver in Greek mythology.

Recurring Slope Lineae (RSL) are a unique phenomenon on Mars, characterized by their narrow, dark streaks that extend incrementally downslope on steep rocky slopes. These features are active during warm seasons and fade in colder seasons but recur over multiple Mars years. RSL are most active on slopes that receive more direct sunlight and are found primarily in the southern mid-latitudes of Mars. The formation of RSL is still a subject of research, with potential explanations including dry mass wasting, carbon dioxide sublimation, and subsurface melting of brines.

This is a non-narrated clip with ambient sound. Image is less than 5 km (3 mi) across and the spacecraft altitude was 253 km (157 mi).

Image Date: Nov. 8, 2022
Local Mars time: 14:30
Latitude (centered): -43.311°
Longitude (East): 343.208°

The University of Arizona, in Tucson, operates the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE). It was built by BAE Systems in Boulder, Colorado. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of Caltech in Pasadena, California, manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Project for NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD), Washington.

For more information on MRO, visit:

science.nasa.gov/mission/mars-reconnaissance-orbiter

Video Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
Duration: 3 minutes, 23 seconds
Release Date: Jan. 1, 2026

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Mars #Planet #RedPlanet #Geology #Geoscience #Landscape #Terrain #RecurringSlopeLineae #RSL #LosheCrater #ArgyrePlanitia #SouthernHemisphere #MRO #MarsOrbiter #MarsSpacecraft #HiRISECamera #JPL #Caltech #UA #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

What's Up for January 2026: Skywatching Tips from NASA | JPL

What's Up for January 2026: Skywatching Tips from NASA | JPL

Here are examples of skywatching highlights for the northern hemisphere in January 2026:

Jupiter is at its biggest and brightest all year, the Moon and Saturn pair up, and the Beehive Cluster buzzes into view. 

0:00 Intro

0:11 Jupiter at opposition

0:50 Moon and Saturn conjunction

1:11 The beehive cluster

2:00 January Moon phases

Additional information about topics covered in this episode of What's Up, along with still images from the video, and the video transcript, are available at:
https://science.nasa.gov/skywatching/whats-up/ 

Video Credit: NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
Duration: 2 minutes, 24 seconds
Release Date: Jan. 1, 2026

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #SolarSystem #Planets #Jupiter #Saturn #Earth #Moon #Stars #StarClusters #BeehiveCluster #NGC2632 #Cancer #Constellations #Nebulae #Galaxies #MilkyWayGalaxy #Skywatching #JPL #Caltech #UnitedStates #Canada #Mexico #NorthernHemisphere #STEM #Education #HD #Video

NASA's Artemis II Moon Rocket Launch Preparations | Kennedy Space Center

NASA's Artemis II Moon Rocket Launch Preparations | Kennedy Space Center

The Moon is calling! 🚀 Inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, retractable platforms are being pulled away from the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion crew spacecraft, marking a major milestone on the road to launch.

Artemis II is one step closer to liftoff . . .

The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion crew spacecraft will carry NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen on a 10-day mission around the Moon and back in early 2026 from Launch Complex 39B at NASA Kennedy.

Ahead of rolling out the integrated SLS rocket to the launch pad, teams will be conducting a series of verification tests. 

Launch is currently scheduled for "no later than April 2026."

Check the NASA Artemis II Mission page for updates:

https://www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-ii/

Learn more about NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket: nasa.gov/sls

Follow updates on the Artemis blog: 

https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/

Image Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Release Date: Dec. 30, 2026

#NASA #Space #Science #Earth #Moon #Artemis #ArtemisII #America250 #OrionSpacecraft #SLS #SLSRocket #CrewedMissions #DeepSpace #MoonToMars #Engineering #SpaceTechnology #HumanSpaceflight #SolarSystem #SpaceExploration #NASAKennedy #KSC #VAB #Florida #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

"New dawn, new day, new year. Onward to The Moon in 2026!" | NASA Artemis II

"New dawn, new day, new year. Onward to The Moon in 2026!" | NASA Artemis II

The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion crew spacecraft will carry NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen on a 10-day mission around the Moon and back in early 2026 from Launch Complex 39B at NASA Kennedy.

Ahead of rolling out the integrated SLS rocket to the launch pad, teams will be conducting a series of verification tests. 

Launch is currently scheduled for "no later than April 2026."

Check the NASA Artemis II Mission page for updates:

https://www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-ii/

Learn more about NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket: nasa.gov/sls

Follow updates on the Artemis blog: 

https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/

Image Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Release Date: Jan. 1, 2026

#NASA #Space #Science #Earth #Moon #Artemis #ArtemisII #America250 #OrionSpacecraft #SLS #SLSRocket #CrewedMissions #DeepSpace #MoonToMars #Engineering #SpaceTechnology #HumanSpaceflight #SolarSystem #SpaceExploration #NASAKennedy #KSC #VAB #Florida #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

First Sunrise of 2026 | International Space Station

First Sunrise of 2026 | International Space Station

Expedition 74 flight engineer and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Kim Yui: "The International Space Station, which uses Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), has also welcomed the new year, so once again, 'Happy New Year!' As promised during the New Year's events that 'we will post the ISS's first sunrise on SNS,' please take a look here. (The video has been edited at 16x speed to shorten it.)"

Follow Expedition 74:

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 74 Crew

Station Commander: Mike Fincke (NASA)

JAXA Flight Engineer (Japan): Kimiya Yui

Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineers: Oleg Platonov, Sergey-Kud Sverchkov, Sergei Mikaev

NASA Flight Engineers: Zena Cardman, Chris Williams

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada.

Video Credit: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)/K. Yui

Duration: 40 seconds
Release Date: Dec. 31, 2025

#NASA #Space #ISS #Science #Sun #Planets #Earth #Sunrise #HappyNewYear #Astronauts #UnitedStates #Japan #日本 #JAXA #宇宙航空研究開発機構 #UnitedStates #Cosmonauts #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #HumanSpaceflight #SpaceLaboratory #InternationalCooperation #Expedition74 #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

Shenzhou-21 Astronauts Extend New Year Wishes | China Space Station

Shenzhou-21 Astronauts Extend New Year Wishes | China Space Station

China's Shenzhou-21 crew members extended their New Year greetings in a video released by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) on New Year's eve.

"This is my second mission aboard China's space station. Each time we fly over our motherland and look down at its vast landscapes and myriad city lights, two lines of a song always come to my mind—'I sing of every mountain, I sing of every river.' My heart is brimming with pride and affection. The strength of our country is the source of confidence and support for our journey into space. Here, I would like to extend New Year greetings to people across our country. May you carry dreams in your hearts and strength in your steps, and move steadily toward the vast sea of stars ahead," said commander Zhang Lu.

"Recently, we completed a new round of inspections of space facilities. Ensuring the stable operation of our space home is our responsibility and a solemn commitment to our country and people. From earth to sky, we celebrate together at the moment across the country. In 2026, I wish everyone a life as radiant as the rising sun, and a spirit as uplifting as a soaring rocket," said astronaut Wu Fei.

"Sending New Year wishes from space for the first time fills me with excitement. I never imagined that one day I would be conducting experiments in a space laboratory. We will spare no effort to complete every scientific task that embodies the wisdom and dedication of countless researchers. With stars shining together and heaven and earth sharing the same age, I wish people across our country a happy new year and the fulfillment of all their hopes," said astronaut Zhang Hongzhang.

"We are the Shenzhou-21 crew. We wish everyone a smooth journey illuminated by stars in the year ahead. Happy New Year!" the crew said.

On New Year's Day, ground staff at the Astronaut Center of China are remaining at their posts, maintaining constant contact with the astronaut crew on the space station.

China launched the Shenzhou-21 crewed spacecraft on Nov. 1, 2025, sending the three astronauts to its Tiangong Space Station for a six-month mission.

Shenzhou-21 Crew
Zhang Lu (张陆) - Commander & Pilot - 2nd spaceflight
Wu Fei (武飞)  Flight Engineer - 1st spaceflight
Zhang Hong Zhang (张洪章) - Payload Specialist - 1st spaceflight

Video Credit: CCTV
Duration: 2 minutes
Release Date: Dec. 31, 2025

#NASA #Space #Science #China #中国 #Shenzhou21Mission #神舟二十一号 #Shenzhou21 #NewYearWishes #HappyNewYear2026 #Taikonauts #Astronauts #ZhangLu #WuFei #ZhangHongzhang #ChinaSpaceStation #中国空间站 #TiangongSpaceStation #SpaceLaboratory #CMSA #中国载人航天工程办公室 #HumanSpaceflight #STEM #Education #HD #Video

NASA's Curiosity Mars Rover Views Earth Setting, Phobos Moon Rising

NASA's Curiosity Mars Rover Views Earth Setting, Phobos Moon Rising

Figure A: This shows the Curiosity rover's Mastcam image with the inset where Phobos is on the left and Earth is on the right. 

Figure B: The inset. Phobos is on the left and Earth is on the right. 

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover used its Mast Camera, or Mastcam, to capture this view of Earth setting while Phobos, one of Mars' two moons, is rising. It is the first time an image of the two celestial bodies have been captured together from the surface of Mars.

The image is a composite of five short exposures and 12 long exposures all taken on Sept. 5, 2024, the 4,295th Martian day, or sol, of Curiosity's mission. An inset in the image shows Phobos on the left and Earth on the right. From the rover's perspective, the inset area would be about half the width of a thumb held at arm's length.

The image shows the sky over Texoli, a butte on lower Mount Sharp, a 3-mile-tall (5-kilometer-tall) mountain that Curiosity has been ascending since 2014.

Curiosity was built by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. It is managed by Caltech in Pasadena, California. JPL leads the mission on behalf of NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. Malin Space Science Systems in San Diego built and operates Mastcam.

For more about Curiosity, visit: science.nasa.gov/mission/msl-curiosity

For more information on NASA's Mars missions, visit: mars.nasa.gov

Celebrating 13+ Years on Mars (2012-2025)

Mission Name: Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)

Rover Name: Curiosity

Main Job: To determine if Mars was ever habitable to microbial life. 

Launch: Nov. 6, 2011

Landing Date: Aug. 5, 2012, Gale Crater, Mars

Image Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS

Release Date: Sept. 13, 2024

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Planets #Earth #Mars #Moons #Phobos #Astrobiology #Geology #CuriosityRover #MSL #Sol4295 #MountSharp #Texoli #Butte #GaleCrater #Robotics #SpaceTechnology #SpaceEngineering #MSSS #JPL #Caltech #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

Happy New Year from Friends of NASA!

Happy New Year from Friends of NASA!

"Thank you for joining us on the journey this year. Here's wishing you success wherever your explorations take you in 2026." ✨

Friends of NASA (FoN) is an independent non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to building international support for peaceful space exploration, commerce, scientific discovery, and STEM education. 

FoN Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofNASA

FoN Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/21711227063

FoN Instagram: https:/www.instagram.com/FriendsofNASA

FoN Website/Blog: https://www.FriendsofNASA.org

Friends of NASA LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/110506

Friends of NASA LinkedIn Page: 
https://www.linkedin.com/company/2565566

FoN X (Twitter): https://x.com/FriendsofNASA 

We depend on public donations.
Become a monthly supporter on our website: https://www.friendsofnasa.org/p/friends-of-nasa.html

One-time Donations to Friends of NASA (PayPal) accepted here: https://www.paypal.me/FriendsofNASA

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Release Date: Dec. 31, 2025

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Sun #Earth #ISS #HappyNewYear #HappyNewYear2026 #Moon #ArtemisProgram #ArtemisII #OrionSpacecraft #Astronauts #SLSRocket #CrewedMissions #DeepSpace #MoonToMars #Engineering #SpaceTechnology #HumanSpaceflight #SolarSystem #SpaceExploration #InternationalCooperation #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

"Small Silhouette. Big Mission." | Artemis III Moon Landing Rocket at Michoud

"Small Silhouette. Big Mission." | Artemis III Moon Landing Rocket at Michoud

As we approach Artemis II launch, work continues for future missions as well. Here, a technician is seen in front of the liquid oxygen tank for NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket core stage for the Artemis III mission as it was lifted into a production cell last month. It was then carried to another area of the factory where it was set atop the previously loaded inter tank. 

Over the course of about thirty days, the Artemis III astronauts will travel to lunar orbit, where two crew members will descend to the surface and spend approximately a week near the South Pole of the Moon conducting new science before returning to lunar orbit to join their crew for the journey back to Earth. Launch is currently scheduled for mid-2027.

Follow updates on the Artemis blog: 
https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/

NASA's Space Launch System (SLS)
https://www.nasa.gov/sls

NASA's Artemis III Mission:
https://www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-iii/

Read the Artemis Plan (74-page PDF Free Download): 
https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/artemis_plan-20200921.pdf

NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF)
https://www.nasa.gov/michoud-assembly-facility/

Image Credit: NASA/Steven B. Seipel
Image Date: Nov. 7, 2025
Release Date: Dec. 31, 2025

#NASA #Space #Earth #Moon #ArtemisProgram #ArtemisIII #SLS #SLSRocket #CoreStage #Boeing #CrewedMissions #DeepSpace #MoonToMars #Science #Engineering #SpaceTechnology #HumanSpaceflight #SolarSystem #SpaceExploration #NASAMarshall #MSFC #NASAMichoud #MAF #NewOrleans #Louisiana #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

Nebula NGC 6729 in Corona Australis Molecular Cloud

Nebula NGC 6729 in Corona Australis Molecular Cloud

NGC 6729, also known as Caldwell 68, is a reflection/emission nebula of the Corona Australis Molecular Cloud in the constellation Corona Australis. It was discovered by Johann Friedrich Julius Schmidt in 1861. This fan-shaped nebula opens from the star R Coronae Australis toward the star T CrA to the south-east. R CrA is a pre-main-sequence star in the Corona Australis molecular complex, one of the closer star-forming regions of our galaxy at a distance of 424 light years. NGC 6729 is a variable nebula. It shows irregular variations in brightness and in shape.

Image Credit: Ian Inverarity

Capture Location: Bendelby, South Australia
Release Date: Dec. 29, 2025

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Nebulae #Nebula #ReflectionNebulae #EmissionNebulae #NGC6729 #Caldwell68 #CoronaAustralisMolecularCloud #CoronaAustralis #Constellations #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #Astrophotography #IanInverarity #Astrophotographer #Bendelby #SouthAustralia #STEM #Education

The Waterfall Nebula: Herbig-Haro 222 in Orion

The Waterfall Nebula: Herbig-Haro 222 in Orion

What created the Waterfall Nebula? 

The origin is still being researched. The structure, officially designated Herbig-Haro 222, appears in the region of NGC 1999 in the Great Orion Molecular Cloud complex. The elongated gaseous stream stretches about ten light years but appears similar to a long waterfall on Earth. Recent observations indicate that HH-222 is likely a gigantic gaseous bow shock, similar to a wave of water caused by a fast-moving ship. The origin of this shock wave is thought to be a jet outflow from the multiple star system V380 Orionis off the lower left of the frame. Therefore, gas does not flow along the waterfall, but rather the entire structure moves toward the upper right. The Waterfall Nebula lies about 1,500 light years away toward the constellation of Orion. The featured image was captured earlier this month from El Sauce Observatory in Chile.

Image Description: A starfield filled with a diffuse red glow has an unusual nebula on the lower left. The nebula has bright red filaments that curve down and appear to be reminiscent of a waterfall on Earth. 

Image Credit & Copyright: Mike Selby

Mike's website: https://throughlightandtime.com/about/
Release Date: Dec. 31, 2025

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Nebulae #WaterfallNebula #HerbigHaro222 #NGC1999 #GreatOrionMolecularCloud #V380Orionis #Orion #Constellations #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #Astrophotography #MikeSelby #Astrophotographer #ElSauceObservatory #Chile #GSFC #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #APoD

Comet 24P Schaumasse: View from New Mexico

Comet 24P Schaumasse: View from New Mexico

Astrophotographer Rolando Ligustri: "Comet 24P between the galaxy M100 and the galaxy NGC 4312."

Comet Schaumasse is a Jupiter-family comet with an 8.2-year orbit around the Sun. On October 25, 2025, it passed about a degree from Jupiter. It next comes to perihelion (closest to the Sun) on January 8, 2026, with a solar elongation of 94 degrees and is expected to brighten to about magnitude 9. It is the first of three comets discovered by French astronomer, Alexandre Schaumasse. He found this comet in the year 1911.

New Mexico is a state in the Southwestern region of the United States. It is one of the Mountain States of the southern Rocky Mountains, sharing the Four Corners region with Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. It also borders the state of Texas to the east and southeast, Oklahoma to the northeast, and shares an international border with the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Sonora to the south.

Image Credit: Rolando Ligustri/New Mexico, Telescope Network

Image Details: Newtonian telescope 300/1140 CCD ASI2600MM in bin2 RGB=3x60s L=15x60s
Rolando's Website: https://www.facebook.com/astrottica
Image Date: Dec. 26, 2025

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Comets #Comet24PSchaumasse #SolarSystem #Galaxies #M100 #NGC4312 #MilkyWayGalaxy #Universe #Astrophotography #DanBartlett #Astrophotographers #GSFC #UnitedStates #STEM #Education