APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 August 17 – A… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. A Golden […]
NASA has deployed aircraft over Utah to study pyrocumulonimbus clouds, one of the most powerful and intense cloud formations in the atmosphere. These towering clouds are generated by wildfires and carry large amounts of smoke high into the sky. The research mission involves directly sampling the smoke that is lofted into the upper atmosphere by these fire-driven clouds. Scientists are focused on understanding how pyrocumulonimbus formations transport smoke and affect atmospheric conditions.
NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) for August 16, 2026 features an image of the Milky Way galaxy photographed over Yellowstone National Park. The APOD program, run by NASA, publishes a different astronomical image or photograph each day accompanied by an explanation from a professional astronomer. Yellowstone's remote, dark skies make it a compelling foreground for capturing the galaxy's luminous band stretching across the night sky. The image highlights the striking visual contrast between one of Earth's most iconic natural landscapes and the vast cosmos beyond.
Deneb is one of the corner stars of the Summer Triangle, a prominent asterism visible in the Northern Hemisphere throughout the summer months. It belongs to Cygnus, the swan constellation, which is notable for actually resembling its namesake shape in the night sky. Cygnus is considered one of the more recognizable and rewarding constellations to observe, packed with notable celestial objects. NASA has highlighted Deneb and Cygnus as key targets for summer stargazers in the Northern Hemisphere.
NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) for August 15, 2026 features photographs of bright Perseid meteors observed from Sweden. The Perseid meteor shower is an annual celestial event that occurs each summer as Earth passes through debris left by Comet Swift-Tuttle. The images highlight multiple luminous meteors streaking across the night sky. APOD is a long-running NASA initiative that publishes a daily astronomy image accompanied by an explanation from a professional astronomer.
NASA has launched the 2027 edition of its RASC-AL competition, calling on U.S.-based collegiate teams to submit original aerospace concepts. The challenge, formally known as the Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts – Academic Linkage program, focuses on innovations that could shape future human presence on the Moon. Student teams are tasked with exploring new operational approaches and advancing technologies relevant to lunar exploration. The competition serves as a bridge between academic research and NASA's long-term space exploration goals.
NASA has announced MAX POWER, a public aerospace exposition celebrating America's 250th anniversary. The two-day event is scheduled for November 7 and 8 at and around Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The family-friendly expo will feature next-generation aircraft, spacecraft, autonomous vehicles, and emerging technologies. NASA made the announcement on Friday, positioning the event as a showcase of American air and space innovation.
A volunteer has developed a machine-learning tool to help identify rare cloud formations as part of the NASA-supported Space Cloud Watch project. Scientists have observed that certain types of clouds are appearing more frequently and at lower altitudes than historically recorded. To investigate the factors driving these changes, researchers have enlisted citizen volunteers worldwide to submit photographs of these unusual clouds. The crowdsourced image data, combined with the new machine-learning tool, aims to improve the identification and analysis of these shifting cloud patterns.
NASA scientists have developed an AI-powered tool called COFFIES to predict solar active regions responsible for generating dangerous space weather. The system was built by a team of astrophysicists and data scientists working under the COFFIES project, which stands for Consequence Of Fields and Flows in the Interior and Exterior of the Sun. Space weather, driven primarily by solar activity, poses increasing risks as NASA advances its plans for lunar and deep-space exploration. By identifying storm-causing regions on the Sun earlier, the tool aims to give scientists and mission planners more time to prepare and respond to potential disruptions.
A total solar eclipse occurred on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, sweeping across several regions including Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, the Atlantic Ocean, Spain, and a small part of Portugal. NASA captured a composite image documenting the progression of the eclipse over San Millán de los Caballeros, Spain. The striking photograph was taken against a sunflower field backdrop, illustrating the stages of totality. Parts of the United States were also able to observe a partial eclipse during the event.
NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) featured an image and explanation of a total solar eclipse observable from Greenland on August 14, 2026. APOD is a long-running NASA program that showcases a different astronomical image each day, accompanied by commentary from a professional astronomer. The featured eclipse represents a significant celestial event in which the Moon completely blocks the Sun's disk as seen from specific locations on Earth. Greenland falls within the path of totality for this particular eclipse, making it a notable viewing destination for astronomers and enthusiasts. No further details about the eclipse's duration or exact path were provided in the available text.
A total solar eclipse will occur in August 2026 when the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth. The alignment will temporarily block sunlight, creating a dramatic celestial spectacle. Spain is among the locations where the event will be visible. Such total eclipses offer rare opportunities for both public viewing and scientific observation of the Sun's outer atmosphere.
NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center has unveiled a freshly painted 737 aircraft this week following work done in Oklahoma. The agency acquired the plane from the United States Air Force in June. The aircraft is currently undergoing modifications to serve as a reduced gravity test platform. Once ready, it will conduct lunar-gravity parabolic flights to validate equipment and procedures for future missions.
Fletcher Newell, an engineer from Grafton, West Virginia, developed an early passion for space exploration through science fiction and Star Wars. In 2013, a fourth-grade field trip introduced him to NASA's Katherine Johnson Independent Verification and Validation facility located near his hometown. That visit proved to be a turning point, sparking a deeper interest in NASA and its work. Newell eventually pursued an engineering career and found himself working at the very facility that had first captured his imagination as a child.
The Perseid meteor shower, one of the brightest and most popular annual meteor showers, is currently active and visible in the night sky. The celestial event began building in intensity since early July and will continue through the end of August. The Perseids are known for producing a spectacular display of meteors visible to the naked eye. Dark sky locations, such as national monuments and parks, offer some of the best viewing conditions for the shower.
A total solar eclipse is set to occur on August 13, 2026, with Spain positioned along its path of totality. NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) featured the event, highlighting it as a significant celestial occurrence. During a total solar eclipse, the Moon completely blocks the Sun's disk, briefly turning day into darkness along a narrow ground track. Such events attract widespread interest from astronomers, researchers, and sky-watchers around the world. The 2026 eclipse represents a notable opportunity for observers across Spain and surrounding regions to witness the phenomenon firsthand.
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station captured images of Mount Hood and Mount Rainier during the summer of 2026. The photographs show both iconic Pacific Northwest volcanoes obscured by thick wildfire smoke. The smoke had spread widely across the Pacific Northwest region at the time the images were taken. NASA released the photos as a striking visual record of the seasonal wildfire conditions affecting the area.
Lunar Station Corp. is leveraging NASA data to identify and map valuable resources on the Moon, including water, iron, and titanium. These materials are considered essential for sustaining long-term human presence and operations in lunar environments. The location of these resources will directly determine where future missions land and how mining operations are conducted. Extracting and processing lunar resources will require specialized equipment tailored to the harsh conditions of the Moon's surface. The collaboration reflects a growing push to make commercial lunar resource utilization a practical reality.
A total solar eclipse is set to occur on August 12, 2026, sweeping across several regions including Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, the Atlantic Ocean, and Spain. The phenomenon occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the Sun's face. Spain is among the notable landmasses in the eclipse's path, with the town of San Millán de los Caballeros being one of the viewing locations. A total solar eclipse is a relatively rare event for any given location, making this a significant astronomical occasion for affected regions.
NASA has completed upgrades to its Vertical Motion Simulator (VMS), the largest facility of its kind in the world. The simulator is capable of replicating the physical sensations of piloting spacecraft, next-generation air taxis, and lunar landing vehicles, all from a ground-based facility. The enhancements are designed to meet the demands of modern and upcoming aerospace missions. The upgraded system offers improved capabilities to support research across a range of aviation and space exploration scenarios.
