The sky on
your birthday.
Mare Orientale
Mare Orientale, resembling a bull's-eye, is a striking large-scale lunar feature. This impact basin, over 3 billion years old and about 600 miles across, formed from an asteroid collision. The impact created ripples in the lunar crust, resulting in the three concentric circular features visible in this 1967 NASA photograph.
We cannot put this date's photograph on paper at poster size. We can print the nearest public archive plate to your date instead.
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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 12 January 2026 Wide-field view (DSS) of the area of the sky around the star RXJ0528+2838 See it as a poster -
Released on 12 January 2026 Wide-field view (PanSTARRS) of the area of the sky around the star RXJ0528+2838 See it as a poster -
Released on 12 January 2005 Hubble finds infant stars in neighbouring galaxy See it as a poster -
Released on 12 January 2021 A starry night sky and an aurora are pictured above Russia, in between Ukraine and Kazakhstan, as the International See it as a poster -
Released on 12 January 2021 A starry night sky and an aurora are pictured above Russia as the International Space Station orbited 264 miles See it as a poster
In tropical astrology, 12 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 12 JAN 1996.
Questions about January 12, 1996
What space photo was released on January 12, 1996?
NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for January 12, 1996 was "Mare Orientale". It's the card at the top of this page.
What was the Moon's phase on January 12, 1996?
A last quarter moon, about 59% lit.
What day of the week was January 12, 1996?
January 12, 1996 was a Friday, day 12 of the 366 days in 1996.
Is it free?
Yes. Seeing, sharing and downloading the card is free, and there's no account to make.