April 1, 1996
The light from the farthest visible stars set out on its journey long before your first birthday.
Hyakutake, Big Dipper, and Observatory Dome
Birthday · April 1, 1996
A little universe, just for you
Your date.
Ready to give.
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APOD published April 1, 1996. Credit: Vic Winter, Courtesy ICSTARS. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.
In one of the more spectacular pictures yet taken, Comet Hyakutake is shown here on March 26 high in the dark Missouri sky. In the foreground is Elmcrest Observatory complete with a dim red light glowing inside the dome. The stars in the background moved slightly during the exposure causing them to appear as streaks instead of points of light. Nevertheless, the constellation of Ursa Major - including the Big Dipper - is visible. Can you spot it? (Hint: Hyakutake's tail flows through the Dipper's handle.) Photographs with both recognizable foreground and background objects visible can be quite striking as they add angular perspective and contrast to the outworldly and unfamiliar comet. Dare anyone try to compete with city lights and capture the Eiffel Tower or the New York skyline in front of the comet? Latest Comet Hyakutake images: APOD Hyakutake Archive, JPL, Fayetteville Observer-Times, NASA's Night of the Comet, ICSTARS, Jerry Lodriguss, ScienceWeb, Crni Vrh Obs., Cent. Mich U.
Image credit: Vic Winter, Courtesy ICSTARS