The sky on
your birthday.
“Whirlpool with Comets” is copyrighted by José J. Chambó. NASA has permission to show it and we don't, so it isn't on this card.
See it on NASA's siteMessier 51, the Whirlpool Galaxy, is a bright spiral galaxy located just off the handle of the Big Dipper. This wide field of view also contains two comets. These comets are new visitors to the inner Solar System and are currently faint telescopic objects, highest above northern horizons in morning twilight.
The Sun on 8 December 2016
NASA SDO took this picture on 8 December 2016, 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.
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.
-
The Sun on your day The Sun on 8 December 2016 See it as a poster -
The Earth on your day The Earth on 8 December 2016 · Red Sea See it as a poster -
Released on 8 December 2022 Southern Ring Nebula’s Spokes (NIRCam and MIRI Composite Image) See it as a poster -
Released on 8 December 2022 Southern Ring Nebula’s Gas (NIRCam and MIRI Composite Compass Image) See it as a poster -
Released on 8 December 2025 Massive stars make their mark See it as a poster -
Released on 8 December 2014 All that glitters See it as a poster -
Released on 8 December 2010 The globular star cluster Messier 107 See it as a poster
In tropical astrology, 8 DEC 2016 falls under Sagittarius (♐). The sign's window runs from 11-22 through 12-21. Sagittarius points straight at the center of the Milky Way, our galaxy's brightest region. The Sun was crossing this region of the sky on 8 DEC 2016.
Questions about December 8, 2016
What space photo was released on December 8, 2016?
NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for December 8, 2016 was "Whirlpool with Comets". 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 December 8, 2016?
A first quarter moon, about 65% lit.
What day of the week was December 8, 2016?
December 8, 2016 was a Thursday, day 343 of the 366 days in 2016.
What did the Sun and the Earth look like on December 8, 2016?
NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory photographed the Sun that day, and NASA's Terra satellite photographed the whole Earth. Both are 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.