The sky on
your birthday.
The Brightest Star Yet Known
The Pistol Star, at the center of the Pistol Nebula, is one of the most luminous stars we know. It sits about 25,000 light years away, near the center of the Milky Way. Observations from the Hubble Space Telescope in 1997 confirmed its immense mass and its role in shaping the surrounding nebula.
Heavy matte paper, about 200 gsm, printed in the United States and shipped free. The card stays free, the print is the thing you keep.
Prints are coming soon. The card is free to save and share in the meantime.
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 8 October 2017 Dark Molecular Cloud Barnard 68 See it as a poster -
Released on 8 October 2026 FRB 20240304B (NIRCam clean image) See it as a poster -
Released on 8 October 2019 The Sun's glint beams off Lake Michigan in this southward view taken from the International Space Station orbiting 253 See it as a poster -
Released on 8 October 2020 Earth Observations See it as a poster -
Released on 8 October 2024 Hurricane Milton is pictured in the Gulf of Mexico See it as a poster
In tropical astrology, 8 OCT 1997 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 8 OCT 1997.
Questions about October 8, 1997
What space photo was released on October 8, 1997?
NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for October 8, 1997 was "The Brightest Star Yet Known". It's the card at the top of this page.
What was the Moon's phase on October 8, 1997?
A first quarter moon, about 42% lit.
What day of the week was October 8, 1997?
October 8, 1997 was a Wednesday, day 281 of the 365 days in 1997.
Is it free?
Yes. Seeing, sharing and downloading the card is free, and there's no account to make.