Astronomy Picture of the Day, or APOD, is a simple idea executed for decades: each day NASA posts one image or video of the cosmos, with a short written explanation by a professional astronomer. A nebula, an eclipse, a galaxy, a rocket launch, a sunset over a telescope, whatever was worth a look that day.
The archive goes back to 1995, which is what makes it a bottomless gallery. Pick any date and there is a picture waiting, so the site is as good for a daily habit as for a long afternoon of back-clicking. The captions are written to be readable by non-experts, with links to learn more.
The address now redirects to NASA's science website, but the daily format continues. It works well on mobile, and the only real warning is that you may find yourself saying "just one more day" and ending up in 2007. Related: /site/sdo-sun, and many more space picks at /category/science-space.
Tips for getting the most out of it
- Use the archive to jump to your birthday.
- Read the caption, since that is where the context lives.
- Some days are videos, so check the sound before you hit play.
Questions about Astronomy Picture of the Day
What is Astronomy Picture of the Day?
Astronomy Picture of the Day is a NASA website that has featured one astronomy image or video each day since 1995, along with a short explanation of what you are looking at. Plan on about 5 min. It works on phones. You can find it at apod.nasa.gov, and we check the link daily.
Can I see old Astronomy Picture of the Day images?
Yes. The site keeps a full archive going back to 1995, so you can browse past days by date or through the archive pages. The old address now redirects to NASA's science website, where the archive remains available. Plan on about 5 min.
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