October 2, 2002
The universe does not repeat itself. Every sunrise is unique, every snowflake singular, and every birthday yours alone.
Star Clouds Toward the Southern Crown
Birthday · October 2, 2002
A little universe, just for you
Your date.
Ready to give.
Free PNG · 1080 × 1350 · No account needed
Image rights and credit requirements apply when sharing or reusing imagery.
Date & occasion only
Change the year
APOD published October 2, 2002. Credit: David Malin. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.
The flowing trails of dust toward Corona Australis, the constellation of the Southern Crown, are visible here not because they glow, but because they absorb and reflect. The dust appears bluer when seen near bright stars because it preferentially reflects blue light. The densest knots of dust are so thick that no background stars or interior stars can be seen through them. These knots indicate molecular clouds filled with cool gas where future stars will likely form. The above image spans about 5 degrees while the reflection nebula lies about 500 light-years distant.
Image credit: David Malin