This was
your sky.
Orion's Cradle
Stars are being born in Orion, cradled in red-glowing hydrogen gas. These stellar nurseries lie at the edge of the giant Orion molecular cloud complex, about 1,500 light-years away. This detailed mosaic includes the Great Orion Nebula, the closest large star-forming region, and also the Flame Nebula and the Horsehead Nebula.
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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Released on 18 February 2009 Australia Wildfires Extract a Heavy Toll in Lives, Land See it as a poster -
Released on 18 February 2018 LL Ori and the Orion Nebula See it as a poster -
Released on 18 February 2005 Enceladus Mosaic See it as a poster -
Released on 18 February 2026 The far western edge of the Taklamakan Desert meets the Pamir Mountains in China See it as a poster -
Released on 18 February 2022 The aurora australis streams above the Indian Ocean in this picture from the International Space Station as it orbited See it as a poster
In tropical astrology, 18 FEB 2026 falls under Aquarius (♒). The sign's window runs from 01-20 through 02-18. Aquarius is home to the Helix Nebula, the closest planetary nebula to Earth. The Sun was crossing this region of the sky on 18 FEB 2026.