The sky on
your birthday.
Comet Hyakutake Passes the Sun
On May 1, Comet Hyakutake made its closest approach to the Sun. The orbiting SOHO spacecraft, designed to observe the Sun, tracked the comet during this period. This image, taken May 2, shows the comet's tails streaming away from the Sun, as expected from solar radiation pressure and the solar wind.
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 16 May 2014 Opportunity's Mars Analemma See it as a poster -
Released on 16 May 2016 Busy bees See it as a poster -
Released on 16 May 2018 Galaxy cluster MACS j1149.5+223 See it as a poster -
Released on 16 May 2024 ZS7 environment (NIRcam image) See it as a poster -
Released on 16 May 2012 A deep look at the strange galaxy Centaurus A See it as a poster
In tropical astrology, 16 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 16 MAY 1996.
Questions about May 16, 1996
What space photo was released on May 16, 1996?
NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for May 16, 1996 was "Comet Hyakutake Passes the Sun". It's the card at the top of this page.
What was the Moon's phase on May 16, 1996?
A new moon, about 2% lit.
What day of the week was May 16, 1996?
May 16, 1996 was a Thursday, day 137 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.