The sky on
your birthday.
The Einstein Cross Gravitational Lens
This image shows the Einstein Cross, a rare gravitational lens phenomenon. The central cloverleaf is actually four distinct images of a single distant quasar. The gravity of the foreground galaxy, which is not even visible, bends the quasar's light, creating this optical illusion. This alignment is only possible when the quasar is directly behind the galaxy's core.
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 17 October 2021 See it as a poster -
The Earth on your day The Earth on 17 October 2021 · Colorado Plateau See it as a poster -
Released on 17 October 2008 The Mimas Atlas See it as a poster -
Released on 17 October 2005 Dione in Full View See it as a poster -
Released on 17 October 2006 Colliding galaxies make love, not war See it as a poster -
Released on 17 October 2006 Wide view of the Antennae galaxies (ground-based image) See it as a poster -
Released on 17 October 2010 NGC 346 in the Small Magellanic Cloud See it as a poster
In tropical astrology, 17 OCT 2021 falls under Libra (♎). The sign's window runs from 09-23 through 10-22. Libra is the only zodiac constellation named for an inanimate object, the scales of judgment. The Sun was crossing this region of the sky on 17 OCT 2021.
Questions about October 17, 2021
What space photo was released on October 17, 2021?
NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for October 17, 2021 was "The Einstein Cross Gravitational Lens". It's the card at the top of this page.
What was the Moon's phase on October 17, 2021?
A waxing gibbous moon, about 85% lit.
What day of the week was October 17, 2021?
October 17, 2021 was a Sunday, day 290 of the 365 days in 2021.
Was there a meteor shower on October 17, 2021?
Yes: the Orionid shower, peaks in 4 days.
What did the Sun and the Earth look like on October 17, 2021?
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.