The sky on
your birthday.
Orionids Meteor Shower to Peak Tonight Credit:
Tonight, you might see pieces of Halley's Comet again. The Orionids meteor shower, which peaks tonight, is thought to be caused by small fragments of the comet falling to Earth. Each time a comet passes near the Sun, it sheds ice and rock from its nucleus. This debris continues to orbit until it either evaporates or collides with a larger body.
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 21 October 2019 A Familiar Sight See it as a poster -
Released on 21 October 2013 Hubble snaps icy comet ISON See it as a poster -
Released on 21 October 2013 Saturn from Above See it as a poster -
Released on 21 October 2025 4MOST first-light field-of-view See it as a poster -
Released on 21 October 2024 The French atoll of Bassas da India in the Mozambique Channel See it as a poster
In tropical astrology, 21 OCT 1996 falls under Libra (♎). The sign's window runs from 09-23 through 10-22. Libra is the only zodiac constellation named for an inanimate object, the scales of judgment. The Sun was crossing this region of the sky on 21 OCT 1996.
Questions about October 21, 1996
What space photo was released on October 21, 1996?
NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for October 21, 1996 was "Orionids Meteor Shower to Peak Tonight Credit:". It's the card at the top of this page.
What was the Moon's phase on October 21, 1996?
A first quarter moon, about 67% lit.
What day of the week was October 21, 1996?
October 21, 1996 was a Monday, day 295 of the 366 days in 1996.
Was there a meteor shower on October 21, 1996?
Yes: the Orionid shower, peak tonight.
Is it free?
Yes. Seeing, sharing and downloading the card is free, and there's no account to make.