The sky on
your birthday.
Galileo Views Io Eruption
Io's surface is very active, with geyser-like eruptions from volcanoes. Both Voyager spacecraft saw these plumes in 1979, and Galileo's camera spotted them again in 1996. The blue plume, magnified in the inset, rises 60 miles above the surface from Ra Patera, a large shield volcano. Its blue color comes from condensing and freezing sulfur dioxide gas.
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 15 August 2014 The Carina Nebula with OmegaCAM See it as a poster -
Released on 15 August 2012 The mouthpiece of the Pipe Nebula See it as a poster -
Released on 15 August 2011 Hubble offers a dazzling necklace See it as a poster -
Released on 15 August 2016 Stellar shrapnel See it as a poster -
Released on 15 August 2023 Powerful Antenna Installed On Europa Clipper See it as a poster
In tropical astrology, 15 AUG 1996 falls under Leo (♌). The sign's window runs from 07-23 through 08-22. Leo is anchored by Regulus, the heart of the Lion, twenty-four parsecs from Earth. The Sun was crossing this region of the sky on 15 AUG 1996.
Questions about August 15, 1996
What space photo was released on August 15, 1996?
NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for August 15, 1996 was "Galileo Views Io Eruption". It's the card at the top of this page.
What was the Moon's phase on August 15, 1996?
A new moon, about 1% lit.
What day of the week was August 15, 1996?
August 15, 1996 was a Thursday, day 228 of the 366 days in 1996.
Was there a meteor shower on August 15, 1996?
Yes: the Perseid shower, peaked 2 days ago.
Is it free?
Yes. Seeing, sharing and downloading the card is free, and there's no account to make.