The sky on
your birthday.
M2-9: Wings of a Butterfly Nebula
Stars often create their most artistic displays as they die. Low-mass stars, like our Sun and M2-9, transform into white dwarfs by shedding their outer gaseous envelopes. This expended gas forms an impressive planetary nebula, like the butterfly shape of M2-9, which is 2,100 light-years away.
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 27 December 2025 Apollo 17's Moonship See it as a poster -
Released on 27 December 2012 Curiosity Rover at Rocknest on Mars See it as a poster -
Released on 27 December 2021 Lonely Spiral See it as a poster -
Released on 27 December 2022 The snow-capped peaks of two different volcanoes on the island of Hawaii, Mauna Loa, an active volcano (bottom), See it as a poster -
Released on 27 December 2010 One Million Galaxies See it as a poster
In tropical astrology, 27 DEC 1998 falls under Capricorn (♑). The sign's window runs from 12-22 through 01-19. Capricorn is the dimmest zodiac constellation, but rich in deep-sky objects south of the celestial equator. The Sun was crossing this region of the sky on 27 DEC 1998.
Questions about December 27, 1998
What space photo was released on December 27, 1998?
NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for December 27, 1998 was "M2-9: Wings of a Butterfly Nebula". It's the card at the top of this page.
What was the Moon's phase on December 27, 1998?
A first quarter moon, about 63% lit.
What day of the week was December 27, 1998?
December 27, 1998 was a Sunday, day 361 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.