The sky on
your birthday.
M27: Not A Comet
Messier 27, also known as the Dumbbell Nebula, is a planetary nebula, though it's not a planet. Charles Messier cataloged it in the 18th century while searching for comets. It formed when a Sun-like star ran out of fuel and ejected its outer layers into space. This gaseous emission nebula is an excellent example of a stellar death throe.
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 23 October 2017 Cosmic archaeology See it as a poster -
Released on 23 October 2023 A dynamic duo … or trio? See it as a poster -
Released on 23 October 2024 NGC 602 (Hubble image) See it as a poster -
Released on 23 October 2024 NGC 602 (Webb image) See it as a poster -
Released on 23 October 2019 Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh See it as a poster
In tropical astrology, 23 OCT 1999 falls under Scorpio (♏). The sign's window runs from 10-23 through 11-21. Scorpio is marked by Antares, a red supergiant the size of Mars's orbit. The Sun was crossing this region of the sky on 23 OCT 1999.
Questions about October 23, 1999
What space photo was released on October 23, 1999?
NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for October 23, 1999 was "M27: Not A Comet". It's the card at the top of this page.
What was the Moon's phase on October 23, 1999?
A full moon, about 98% lit.
What day of the week was October 23, 1999?
October 23, 1999 was a Saturday, day 296 of the 365 days in 1999.
Was there a meteor shower on October 23, 1999?
Yes: the Orionid shower, peaked 2 days ago.
Is it free?
Yes. Seeing, sharing and downloading the card is free, and there's no account to make.