The sky on
your birthday.
“Symbiotic Star System R Aquarii” is copyrighted by Anglo-Australian Telescope Board. NASA has permission to show it and we don't, so it isn't on this card.
See it on NASA's siteR Aquarii is a "symbiotic" star system, where a variable giant star and a white dwarf companion create a nebula and a jet. This photograph shows light from the giant star and the unusually shaped nebula. The two visible shells in the nebula likely resulted from separate outburst events from the system.
Peculiar coma shape of comet Schwassmann-Wachmann 3
ESO released this picture on 5 January 1996. That is the day it was published, not the day it was taken.
We cannot put this date's photograph on paper at poster size. We can print the nearest public archive plate to your date instead.
See print sizesPrinted, shipped and sold by Zazzle
Released on your day
Space pictures released on your month and day in other years, or a few days either side. Each one is sharp enough to print as a poster.
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Released on 4 January 2024 Zeta Oph: Runaway Star See it as a poster -
Released on 4 January 2016 Earthset from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter See it as a poster -
Released on 4 January 2025 A red and green aurora shimmers brightly above Ontario, Canada See it as a poster -
Released on 4 January 2025 A red and green aurora borealis above Canada's Gulf of St. Lawrence See it as a poster -
Released on 4 January 2025 An aurora shimmers and dances above the city lights of Canada See it as a poster
In tropical astrology, 4 JAN 1996 falls under Capricorn (♑). The sign's window runs from 12-22 through 01-19. Capricorn is the dimmest zodiac constellation, but rich in deep-sky objects south of the celestial equator. The Sun was crossing this region of the sky on 4 JAN 1996.
Questions about January 4, 1996
What space photo was released on January 4, 1996?
NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for January 4, 1996 was "Symbiotic Star System R Aquarii". It's a photographer's copyrighted image, so we link to it on NASA's site and show the Sun or the Earth that day instead.
What was the Moon's phase on January 4, 1996?
A full moon, about 97% lit.
What day of the week was January 4, 1996?
January 4, 1996 was a Thursday, day 4 of the 366 days in 1996.
Was there a meteor shower on January 4, 1996?
Yes: the Quadrantid shower, peak tonight.
Is it free?
Yes. Seeing, sharing and downloading the card is free, and there's no account to make.