The sky on
your birthday.
“A Farewell to Tails” is copyrighted by W. Pacholka. NASA has permission to show it and we don't, so it isn't on this card.
See it on NASA's siteComet Hale-Bopp, the Great Comet of 1997, was the brightest comet since 1976. Its coma was so bright it could be seen by eye even near the Moon. Many amateur astronomers captured spectacular photographs of the comet, which inspired widespread public interest. Hale-Bopp offered a unique celestial display before fading from view.
Ganymede G1 & G2 Encounters - Interior of Ganymede
NASA released this picture on 16 December 1997. That is the day it was published, not the day it was taken.
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 December 2008 The Southern Hemisphere of Enceladus See it as a poster -
Released on 15 December 2011 Hubble/Subaru composite of star-forming region S 106 See it as a poster -
Released on 15 December 2009 Hubble's festive view of a grand star-forming region See it as a poster -
Released on 15 December 2011 Wide-field view of the sky around NGC 253 See it as a poster -
Released on 15 December 2023 Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex See it as a poster
In tropical astrology, 15 DEC 1997 falls under Sagittarius (♐). The sign's window runs from 11-22 through 12-21. Sagittarius points straight at the center of the Milky Way, our galaxy's brightest region. The Sun was crossing this region of the sky on 15 DEC 1997.
Questions about December 15, 1997
What space photo was released on December 15, 1997?
NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for December 15, 1997 was "A Farewell to Tails". It's a photographer's copyrighted image, so we link to it on NASA's site and show the Sun or the Earth that day instead.
What was the Moon's phase on December 15, 1997?
A full moon, about 99% lit.
What day of the week was December 15, 1997?
December 15, 1997 was a Monday, day 349 of the 365 days in 1997.
Was there a meteor shower on December 15, 1997?
Yes: the Geminid shower, peaked yesterday.
Is it free?
Yes. Seeing, sharing and downloading the card is free, and there's no account to make.