The sky on
your birthday.
Hale-Bopp: A Continuing Tail
Comet Hale-Bopp, one of the largest and most active comets ever, is now about 400 million miles from the Sun. It is too faint for viewing without telescopes. This negative image, from a one-hour exposure with the 1-meter European Southern Observatory Schmidt telescope, shows the comet still has a tail.
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 20 February 2013 The Lobster Nebula seen with ESO’s VISTA telescope See it as a poster -
Released on 20 February 2026 The stellar lifecycle in a nearby spiral See it as a poster -
Released on 20 February 2025 Messier 87 See it as a poster -
Released on 20 February 2017 Astronomical cooperation See it as a poster -
Released on 20 February 2017 ALMA’s hole in the Universe See it as a poster
In tropical astrology, 20 FEB 1998 falls under Pisces (♓). The sign's window runs from 02-19 through 03-20. Pisces holds the location of the spring equinox in the current astronomical era. The Sun was crossing this region of the sky on 20 FEB 1998.
Questions about February 20, 1998
What space photo was released on February 20, 1998?
NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for February 20, 1998 was "Hale-Bopp: A Continuing Tail". It's the card at the top of this page.
What was the Moon's phase on February 20, 1998?
A last quarter moon, about 36% lit.
What day of the week was February 20, 1998?
February 20, 1998 was a Friday, day 51 of the 365 days in 1998.
Is it free?
Yes. Seeing, sharing and downloading the card is free, and there's no account to make.