The sky on
your birthday.
M16: Stars, Pillars, and the Eagle's EGGs
The Eagle Nebula, M16, 7,000 light-years away, is known for its towering pillars of gas and dust. This wide-field view, taken with the European Southern Observatory's Antu telescope in near-infrared, shows the three prominent pillars at the center. The massive, bright, young stars of cluster NGC 6611, at the upper right, are shaping these dusty structures with their powerful winds and radiation.
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 3 January 2002 · Pilbara, Western Australia See it as a poster -
Released on 3 January 2006 Spirit Rover on Husband Hill See it as a poster -
Released on 3 January 2011 Stellar powerhouses in the Eagle Nebula See it as a poster -
Released on 3 January 2015 - It's a full moon as viewed from the International Space Station (ISS) on 3 January 2015 See it as a poster -
Released on 3 January 2014 Outcrop on Murray Ridge Section of Martian Crater Rim See it as a poster -
Released on 3 January 2024 The sun's glint beams off the Atlantic Ocean revealing the island country of the Republic of Cabo Verde (left) off See it as a poster
In tropical astrology, 3 JAN 2002 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 3 JAN 2002.
Questions about January 3, 2002
What space photo was released on January 3, 2002?
NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for January 3, 2002 was "M16: Stars, Pillars, and the Eagle's EGGs". It's the card at the top of this page.
What was the Moon's phase on January 3, 2002?
A waning gibbous moon, about 81% lit.
What day of the week was January 3, 2002?
January 3, 2002 was a Thursday, day 3 of the 365 days in 2002.
Was there a meteor shower on January 3, 2002?
Yes: the Quadrantid shower, peaks tomorrow.
What did the Sun and the Earth look like on January 3, 2002?
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.