The sky on
your birthday.
“SpaceX Rocket Launch Plume over California” is copyrighted by Craig Bobchin. NASA has permission to show it and we don't, so it isn't on this card.
See it on NASA's siteA SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch created this dramatic plume over California. The rocket, carrying ten Iridium NEXT satellites, lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base. Backlit by the setting Sun, the exhaust plume expanded into a wide, luminous cloud. This effect often makes rocket launches visible across large distances at dawn or dusk.
The Sun on 24 December 2017
NASA SDO took this picture on 24 December 2017, 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.
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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 Sun on your day The Sun on 24 December 2017 See it as a poster -
The Earth on your day The Earth on 24 December 2017 · Namib Desert See it as a poster -
Released on 24 December 2018 Globular Cluster NGC 1466 See it as a poster -
Released on 24 December 2025 The sun’s glint beams off the Atlantic Ocean See it as a poster -
Released on 24 December 2012 A wanderer dancing the dance of stars and space See it as a poster -
Released on 24 December 2008 Earthrise See it as a poster -
Released on 24 December 2005 Earthrise See it as a poster
In tropical astrology, 24 DEC 2017 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 24 DEC 2017.
Questions about December 24, 2017
What space photo was released on December 24, 2017?
NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for December 24, 2017 was "SpaceX Rocket Launch Plume over California". 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 24, 2017?
A first quarter moon, about 35% lit.
What day of the week was December 24, 2017?
December 24, 2017 was a Sunday, day 358 of the 365 days in 2017.
Was there a meteor shower on December 24, 2017?
Yes: the Ursid shower, peaked 2 days ago.
What did the Sun and the Earth look like on December 24, 2017?
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.