The sky on
your birthday.
“Comet Hyakutake's Past and Future” is copyrighted by Herman Mikuz, Crni Vrh Observatory, Slovenia. NASA has permission to show it and we don't, so it isn't on this card.
See it on NASA's siteThis false-color picture, taken just two days before its closest approach, shows Comet Hyakutake's rapidly developing tail. The comet had a substantial coma with a bright center, giving it an eye-like appearance. This was not its first visit to the inner Solar System. Its previous approach was estimated to be about 8600 years ago.
The near-nucleus region of comet Hale-Bopp
ESO released this picture on 22 March 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.
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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 23 March 2011 Wide-field view of the sky around the brown dwarf binary CFBDSIR 1458+10 See it as a poster -
Released on 23 March 2016 Wide-field view of the sky around the dwarf galaxy WLM See it as a poster -
Released on 23 March 2026 Crab Nebula (2024 Hubble image) See it as a poster -
Released on 23 March 2026 Crab Nebula (new image from 1999/2000 data) See it as a poster -
Released on 23 March 2020 Single Arm Galaxy See it as a poster
In tropical astrology, 23 MAR 1996 falls under Aries (♈). The sign's window runs from 03-21 through 04-19. Aries is the constellation traditionally tied to spring's arrival in the northern hemisphere. The Sun was crossing this region of the sky on 23 MAR 1996.
Questions about March 23, 1996
What space photo was released on March 23, 1996?
NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for March 23, 1996 was "Comet Hyakutake's Past and Future". 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 March 23, 1996?
A waxing crescent moon, about 15% lit.
What day of the week was March 23, 1996?
March 23, 1996 was a Saturday, day 83 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.