This was
your sky.
A Hotspot Map of Neutron Star J0030's Surface
Neutron stars are usually too small and distant to see, but astronomers can map hotspots on their surfaces. This map of pulsar J0030+0451 shows where X-ray brightness rises and falls as the star spins. J0030 spins once every 4.7 milliseconds, and these observations help us understand its structure. This is the first map of its kind, based on data from the NICER telescope.
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.
-
Released on 18 December 2012 Hubble snaps NGC 5189 See it as a poster -
Released on 18 December 2024 Close look at a local galaxy See it as a poster -
Released on 18 December 2024 NGC 2566 (HST image) See it as a poster -
Released on 18 December 2012 Massive Star Makes Waves See it as a poster -
Released on 18 December 2023 Uranus widefield view (NIRCam) See it as a poster
In tropical astrology, 18 DEC 2019 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 18 DEC 2019.