The sky on
your birthday.
“A Seemingly Square Sun” is copyrighted by T. Polakis. NASA has permission to show it and we don't, so it isn't on this card.
See it on NASA's siteThe Sun is round, but in this picture, Earth's atmosphere makes it appear almost square. A layer of air near the Earth was so warm it acted like a giant lens, creating increasingly distorted paths for sunlight to reach the camera. This is similar to how a long, flat highway can appear to be covered with water in the distance. In that case, light from the blue sky is unusually refracted by warm air just above the dry road.
Omega Centauri tracking test
ESO released this picture on 27 May 1998. 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 26 May 2025 Paired pinwheel seen solo See it as a poster -
Released on 26 May 2021 The full Moon is pictured before a lunar eclipse from the International Space Station during a southwest to northeast See it as a poster -
Released on 26 May 2021 The Moon pictured during a lunar eclipse is seen from the International Space Station during a northwest to southeast See it as a poster -
Released on 26 May 2021 The Moon pictured during a lunar eclipse, and intersecting with the Earth's horizon, is seen from the International See it as a poster -
Released on 26 May 2024 The sun's glint beams off the Gulf of California contrasting Mexico's coastal states of Baja California (bottom) See it as a poster
In tropical astrology, 26 MAY 1998 falls under Gemini (♊). The sign's window runs from 05-21 through 06-20. Gemini is named for the twin stars Castor and Pollux, both bright enough to spot without a telescope. The Sun was crossing this region of the sky on 26 MAY 1998.
Questions about May 26, 1998
What space photo was released on May 26, 1998?
NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for May 26, 1998 was "A Seemingly Square Sun". 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 May 26, 1998?
A new moon, about 0% lit.
What day of the week was May 26, 1998?
May 26, 1998 was a Tuesday, day 146 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.