September 19, 2026
Another trip around the Sun. A whole sky of possibilities.
Birthday · September 19, 2026
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Selected image source ↗ APOD published September 19, 2026. Credit: Neelam and Ajay Talwar. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.
Read the original APOD for the astronomer’s explanation and full image credits. Its text is preserved in the archive as published.
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Also known as the false dawn, a luminous band of zodiacal light is captured in this dark night skyscape. The serene view was recorded just before the beginning of astronomical twilight during September's star party at the remote Hanle Dark Sky Reserve, Ladakh, India, planet Earth. At about 4,500 meters altitude, the dark sky reserve presents a haven for hardy stargazing and astrophotography enthusiasts. While meteors streak through the night, bright planet Jupiter appears immersed in the faint zodiacal glow near the eastern horizon. Follow the zodiacal band toward the zenith to find open star cluster M44 and a yellowish tinged planet Mars near the center of the frame. In fact, serendipitous detections of interplanetary dust by NASA's Juno spacecraft suggest Mars itself is the source of dust that back scatters sunlight and creates zodiacal light in planet Earth's night. APOD's main NASA site is moving: From apod.nasa.gov to science.nasa.gov/apod
Image credit: Neelam and Ajay Talwar
Explore September 19 in other years · 32 APOD entries, 1995–2026
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