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Birthday · June 18, 2025

Space Station Silhouette on the Moon

June 18, 2025

On the day you were born, the universe did what it has always done best: transformed chaos into beauty.

Space Station Silhouette on the Moon

A little universe, just for you

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APOD published June 18, 2025. Credit: Eric Holland. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.

Behind the image

Space Station Silhouette on the Moon

Original APOD · June 18, 2025

What's that unusual spot on the Moon? It's the International Space Station. Using precise timing, the Earth-orbiting space platform was photographed in front of a partially lit gibbous Moon in 2019. The featured image was taken from Palo Alto, California, USA with an exposure time of only 1/667 of a second. In contrast, the duration of the transit of the ISS across the entire Moon was about half a second. A close inspection of this unusually crisp ISS silhouette will reveal the outlines of numerous solar panels and trusses. The bright crater Tycho is visible on the lower left, as well as comparatively rough, light colored terrain known as highlands and relatively smooth, dark colored areas known as maria. Downloadable apps can tell you when the International Space Station will be visible from your area. APOD Turns 30!: Free Public Lecture in Cork, Ireland on June 24

Image credit: Eric Holland

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