The sky on
your birthday.
Is Mystery Object an Orphan Afterglow?
Astronomers can usually identify objects in the sky, but some remain a mystery. This image shows an object that defies classification, possessing unusual colors and fading over several months. It appears to be associated with a distant galaxy. Its discoverers hope it could be the first known 'orphan afterglow,' an explosion that would have been a gamma-ray burst if its gamma-rays were aimed at Earth.
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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The Earth on your day The Earth on 12 November 2001 · Sahara, Algeria See it as a poster -
Released on 12 November 2012 Galactic fireflies See it as a poster -
Released on 12 November 2018 Of bent time and jellyfish See it as a poster -
Released on 12 November 2014 Philae Attempts Comet Nucleus Landing See it as a poster -
Released on 12 November 2019 NGC 3717: A Nearly Sideways Spiral Galaxy See it as a poster -
Released on 12 November 2013 The Unexpected Tails of Asteroid P5 See it as a poster
In tropical astrology, 12 NOV 2001 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 12 NOV 2001.
Questions about November 12, 2001
What space photo was released on November 12, 2001?
NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for November 12, 2001 was "Is Mystery Object an Orphan Afterglow?". It's the card at the top of this page.
What was the Moon's phase on November 12, 2001?
A waning crescent moon, about 13% lit.
What day of the week was November 12, 2001?
November 12, 2001 was a Monday, day 316 of the 365 days in 2001.
What did the Sun and the Earth look like on November 12, 2001?
NASA's Terra satellite photographed the whole Earth that day. It's on this page, next to the card.
Is it free?
Yes. Seeing, sharing and downloading the card is free, and there's no account to make.