{"id":3784,"date":"2026-03-23T05:13:53","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T05:13:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/globalnewstoday.uk\/index.php\/2026\/03\/23\/astronomy-picture-of-the-day-nasa-gov\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T05:13:53","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T05:13:53","slug":"astronomy-picture-of-the-day-nasa-gov","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globalnewstoday.uk\/index.php\/2026\/03\/23\/astronomy-picture-of-the-day-nasa-gov\/","title":{"rendered":"Astronomy Picture of the Day – NASA (.gov)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Discover the cosmos!<\/a> Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
2026 March 23
\"A<\/a>
Explanation: <\/b> What’s happening at the end of that street? Pictured here are not auroras<\/a> but light pillar<\/a>s, a phenomenon typically much closer. In most places on Earth<\/a>, a lucky viewer can see a Sun pillar<\/a>, a column of light appearing to extend up from the Sun<\/a> caused by flat fluttering ice-crystals<\/a> reflecting sunlight from the upper atmosphere<\/a>. Usually, these ice crystal<\/a>s evaporate before reaching the ground. During freezing temperatures, however, flat<\/a> fluttering ice crystals<\/a> may form near the ground and are sometimes known as a crystal fog<\/a>. These small ice crystal<\/a>s may then reflect not the Sun but ground lights<\/a>. The featured image captured not only numerous light pillars<\/a> but also the iconic constellation of Orion<\/a>, and was taken in Mohe<\/a>, the northernmost city in China<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Tomorrow’s picture: <\/b>lumpy Earth <\/p>\n
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Authors & editors: <\/b> Robert Nemiroff<\/a> (MTU<\/a>) & Jerry Bonnell<\/a> (UMCP<\/a>)
NASA Official: <\/b> Amber Straughn Specific rights apply<\/a>.
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A service of:<\/b> ASD<\/a> at NASA<\/a> \/ GSFC<\/a>,
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&<\/b> Michigan Tech. U.<\/a>
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