The sky on
your birthday.
“The Tails of Comet NEAT (Q4)” is copyrighted by Chris Schur. NASA has permission to show it and we don't, so it isn't on this card.
See it on NASA's siteComet NEAT (C/2001 Q4) displayed prominent tails as it approached its closest point to the Sun in May 2004. This image, taken from Happy Jack, Arizona, shows a long blue ion tail. The comet was bright enough to be seen with the unaided eye from dark locations after sunset. Comets develop tails when solar radiation vaporizes their icy surfaces.
The Earth on 12 May 2004 · Baja California
NASA Terra took this picture on 12 May 2004, the day itself, not a release date.
We cannot put this date's photograph on paper at poster size. We can print the nearest public archive plate to your date instead.
Prints are coming soon. The card is free to save and share in the meantime.
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 May 2004 · Baja California See it as a poster -
Released on 12 May 2004 Spirit Keeps on Trekking polar eye See it as a poster -
Released on 12 May 2004 Spirit Keeps on Trekking vertical eye See it as a poster -
Released on 12 May 2010 M72: A Globular Cluster of Stars See it as a poster -
Released on 12 May 2022 First image of our black hole See it as a poster -
Released on 12 May 2025 Capturing candyfloss clouds See it as a poster
In tropical astrology, 12 MAY 2004 falls under Taurus (♉). The sign's window runs from 04-20 through 05-20. Taurus holds the Pleiades star cluster and Aldebaran, the red giant that marks the eye of the Bull. The Sun was crossing this region of the sky on 12 MAY 2004.
Questions about May 12, 2004
What space photo was released on May 12, 2004?
NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for May 12, 2004 was "The Tails of Comet NEAT (Q4)". 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 May 12, 2004?
A last quarter moon, about 45% lit.
What day of the week was May 12, 2004?
May 12, 2004 was a Wednesday, day 133 of the 366 days in 2004.
What did the Sun and the Earth look like on May 12, 2004?
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.