The sky on
your birthday.
“Third Millennium, First Eclipse” is copyrighted by Fred Espenak (courtesy of www.MrEclipse.com). NASA has permission to show it and we don't, so it isn't on this card.
See it on NASA's siteThe first eclipse of the third millennium was a total lunar eclipse on January 9, 2001, visible mainly from Europe, Asia, and Africa. The Moon glided through Earth's shadow, which isn't completely dark because sunlight scatters and refracts through our atmosphere. This can create striking photographs of the eclipsed Moon, as seen in this composite from a July 2000 eclipse.
Hubble-X in galaxy NGC 6822
ESA/Hubble released this picture on 4 January 2001. 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.
See print sizesPrinted, shipped and sold by Zazzle
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 4 January 2024 Zeta Oph: Runaway Star See it as a poster -
Released on 4 January 2016 Earthset from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter See it as a poster -
Released on 4 January 2025 A red and green aurora shimmers brightly above Ontario, Canada See it as a poster -
Released on 4 January 2025 A red and green aurora borealis above Canada's Gulf of St. Lawrence See it as a poster -
Released on 4 January 2025 An aurora shimmers and dances above the city lights of Canada See it as a poster
In tropical astrology, 4 JAN 2001 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 4 JAN 2001.
Questions about January 4, 2001
What space photo was released on January 4, 2001?
NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for January 4, 2001 was "Third Millennium, First Eclipse". 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 January 4, 2001?
A waxing gibbous moon, about 71% lit.
What day of the week was January 4, 2001?
January 4, 2001 was a Thursday, day 4 of the 365 days in 2001.
Was there a meteor shower on January 4, 2001?
Yes: the Quadrantid shower, peak tonight.
Is it free?
Yes. Seeing, sharing and downloading the card is free, and there's no account to make.