The sky on
your birthday.
Comet Hyakutake and a Cactus
Comet Hyakutake was photographed on March 27 in Arizona, with a cactus in the foreground and Polaris visible. Today, May 1, the comet reaches its closest point to the Sun, making it intrinsically brightest. However, its increased distance from Earth means it will appear less bright than it did during its close approach in late March.
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 1 May 2024 Star-studded cluster (NGC 6440 NIRCam wide-field image) See it as a poster -
Released on 1 May 2014 Ubinas Volcano Activity in Peruvian Andes See it as a poster -
Released on 1 May 2014 Galaxy cluster MACS J1720+35 See it as a poster -
Released on 1 May 2021 Perseverance from Ingenuity See it as a poster -
Released on 1 May 2018 The Aurora and the Sunrise See it as a poster
In tropical astrology, 1 MAY 1996 falls under Taurus (♉). The sign's window runs from 04-20 through 05-20. Taurus holds the Pleiades star cluster and Aldebaran, the red giant that marks the eye of the Bull. The Sun was crossing this region of the sky on 1 MAY 1996.
Questions about May 1, 1996
What space photo was released on May 1, 1996?
NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for May 1, 1996 was "Comet Hyakutake and a Cactus". It's the card at the top of this page.
What was the Moon's phase on May 1, 1996?
A full moon, about 97% lit.
What day of the week was May 1, 1996?
May 1, 1996 was a Wednesday, day 122 of the 366 days in 1996.
Was there a meteor shower on May 1, 1996?
Yes: the Eta Aquariid shower, peaks in 5 days.
Is it free?
Yes. Seeing, sharing and downloading the card is free, and there's no account to make.