NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day

February 28, 2026

Lunar Occultation of Mercury

Fans of the western sky after sunset have lately enjoyed this month's remarkable array of bright planets. Witnessed from some locations, on February 18 planet Mercury even appeared to slide behind the Moon, an event known as a lunar occultation. These two snapshots, taken in early evening skies show before and after telescopic views of the rare disappearance of innermost planet behind young Moon. The top panel finds bright Mercury just visible at the northern (right) edge of the earthshine-illuminated lunar disk. In the bottom panel the bright planet has emerged in darker skies beyond the Moon's sunlit crescent. As seen south of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, planet Earth, this lunar occultation of Mercury lasted only about 3 minutes (video). But you can still check out a parade of planets tonight.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt5SdjUtpzA

>>24319388

chekt

>>24319388

>>24319593

minus the video

Weather Wows, Mars Life, Sunspots to Watch | S0 News and frens

Feb.28.2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSGQkCtlhzM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybNMMwAy-pc (NASA: See the Sun's Active Region: Source of the Early-February Solar Flares)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAKp0HvWoXA (Ray's Astro: LIVE: Rare Planetary Alignment Tonight | Look Up After Sunset)

https://www.youtube.com/@ChucksAstrophotography/posts

https://x.com/schumannbot/status/2027745632308355140

https://x.com/MrMBB333/status/2027472762533458016

https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/aurora-viewline-tonight-and-tomorrow-night-experimental

https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/

https://spaceweather.com/

>>24319610

>>24319610

>>24319615

https://x.com/StefanBurnsGeo

https://avi-loeb.medium.com/anti-sun-jets-in-esas-janus-image-of-3i-atlas-from-november-6-2025-15b2f25a8e34

https://www.iflscience.com/interstellar-comet-3iatlas-is-about-to-have-a-potentially-course-altering-encounter-before-heading-towards-the-gemini-constellation-82681

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/is-it-an-alien-craft-3i/atlas-caught-releasing-dust-and-gas-in-dramatic-space-photo/articleshow/128857809.cms

https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/esa-juice-captures-interstellar-comet-3i-atlas-1782160

https://x.com/drew4worldruler/status/2027495228576342041

https://x.com/drew4worldruler/status/2027487750618833028

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6XuXAK4IM0 (Ray's Astro: Blood Moon, Great Comet & Rare Planet Alignment — What They Don’t Explain)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOAFuImmp6g (Dobsonian Power: NEW 3I/ATLAS OFFICIAL PICTURE SHOWS A FREAKING SPACESHIP!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCCl0cUgE4c (Angry Astronaut: Extraterrestrial signals discovered across the Galaxy while we watch 3I Atlas!)

moar Avi Loeb

https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/avi-loeb-donald-trump-ufo/2026/02/27/id/1247677/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVd-CY8HLyk (Would Alien Contact Save Humanity?)

extra planet sized object coming in 2027

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9Cjqtru_Vc (Vetted: Lue Elizondo Exposed Spreading 2027 Alien Threat Rumor)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJdeOunuTbg (Red Panda Koala: Tim Alberino says he's heard serious rumors that a large, hostile object will arrive in 2027)

Anti-Sun Jets in ESA’s JANUS Image of 3I/ATLAS from November 6, 2025

February 28, 2026

The European Space Agency (ESA) just released here a new image of the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, obtained by the JANUS camera onboard the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) spacecraft.

JANUS is a multicolor optical camera designed to take high-resolution photos of Jupiter and its icy moons.

The image was taken on November 6, 2025, a week after closest approach of 3I/ATLAS to the Sun. It displays jets coming out of the nucleus of 3I/ATLAS opposite to the direction of the Sun.

This is surprising since pockets of ice on the surface of a rock are supposed to be warmed up by sunlight on the Sun-facing side, creating jets that are initially directed at the Sun.

The JANUS image resembles images taken by amateur astronomers from Earth around the same time, as I reported here, here, here and here.

The JANUS camera took this image from a distance of 66 million kilometers, about 172 times the Earth-Moon separation.

Throughout the month of November 2025, the Juice spacecraft used five of its science instruments to observe 3I/ATLAS, namely: JANUS, MAJIS, SWI, PEP and UVS.

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>>24319743

During the months that followed these observations, the Juice spacecraft was on the opposite side of the Sun relative to Earth.

As a result, it was using its main high-gain antenna as a heat shield and its smaller medium-gain antenna to send back data to Earth at a slower rate.

The related analysis teams had to wait until last week to receive the full extent of the collected data.

In total, JANUS took more than 120 images of 3I/ATLAS, whereas the MAJIS, UVS and SWI obtained spectroscopic data regarding the composition of the gas plume around 3I/ATLAS, and PEP provided particle-collection data.

Juice’s navigation camera also photographed 3I/ATLAS, and the analysis of that data is expected to be publicly released within a month.

Recent images from the Hubble Space Telescope (archived here) implied that the diameter of the nucleus of 3I/ATLAS is 2.6 kilometers (as reported here), much bigger than the interstellar objects 1I/`Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov.

The Juice spacecraft is expected to arrive at Jupiter in July 2031, where it will study Jupiter’s icy moons: Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa. However, 3I/ATLAS will arrive within 53.6 million kilometers from Jupiter as soon as March 16, 2026, as a result of its higher speed.

When 3I/ATLAS will arrive closest to Jupiter, NASA’s Juno spacecraft will be able to observe it with all its instruments (listed here), including its low-frequency radio antenna.

Half a year ago, I led a paper, posted here, which demonstrated that Juno could have intercepted the path of 3I/ATLAS if it still had most of the fuel that it started with.

Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna echoed this opportunity in an official letter that she posted online, as reported here. A crash of Juno on 3I/ATLAS could have given us a clear close-up view of this interstellar visitor a few seconds before impact.

As I told a reporter today, it does not make sense for us to chase after 3I/ATLAS with a new expensive mission at this time (as contemplated here).

The situation is similar to visiting a bar and noticing an interesting person. However, by the time you leave your chair — that person left the bar and you realize that a chase down the street would require a huge effort.

Under these circumstances, it makes most sense to look around for other interesting people rather than to obsess about the missed opportunity.

For the same reason, our best strategy following our recent encounter with the anomalies of 3I/ATLAS (as listed here plus here) would be to wait patiently for a future opportunity of an interception mission with another interesting interstellar visitor.

We will likely discover hundreds of interstellar objects this century with the Rubin observatory monitoring the southern sky and the Argus array monitoring the northern sky.

If one of the future interstellar objects will maneuver towards Earth without any effort required on our behalf to reach it, this particular visitor will rank at the highest alert priority of 10 on the Loeb Classification Scale (as quantified here, here and here).

The alarming question, as with any blind date, would be whether this dating partner is proactive because it is friendly or because it is hostile. Time will tell.

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https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/armstrong/nasas-home-for-experimental-flight-advances-aeronautics-mission/

NASA’s Home for Experimental Flight Advances Aeronautics Mission

Feb 27, 2026

Nestled in the Mojave Desert, NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, pushes the boundaries of flight to advance the agency’s aeronautics mission.

This is where Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier and engineers are now pioneering the future of high-speed, autonomous, and electrified aircraft.

Armstrong contributes to NASA’s broader mission of innovation and collaboration, leveraging its uniquely capable location.

The story begins in 1947, when 13 engineers and technicians from NASA’s predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, arrived at Muroc Army Airfield – now Edwards Air Force Base – in Southern California’s high desert to establish the Station for High-Speed Research.

Their mission was to prepare for the first supersonic research flights of the X-1 rocket plane. The Bell X-1 became the first aircraft to fly faster than the speed of sound in level flight, a historic milestone that marked the dawn of a new era in aviation and helped cement Edwards Air Force Base as a cornerstone of NASA’s flight research enterprise.

Today, NASA’s mission continues that tradition, supporting cutting-edge projects in aeronautics like the X-59 quiet supersonic technology aircraft, hypersonic research, and emerging technologies in advanced air mobility, with flight testing led at NASA Armstrong in collaboration with other NASA centers and industry partners.

Why Edwards?

NASA Armstrong’s location at Edwards Air Force Base supports NASA’s flight research that would be difficult or impossible elsewhere, offering unmatched access to the largest secure flight test range in the nation equipped with specialized testing instrumentation.

The base spans roughly 470 square miles of mission-critical terrain, including Rogers Dry Lake’s 44-square-mile surface. This range provides extensive restricted airspace enabling safe, complex flight-testing scenarios for NASA teams across multiple programs.

Almost from the start of aeronautical advancements, the region’s natural geography played a critical role.

In 1937, nearly all the U.S. Army Air Corp’s fleet conducted maneuvers above Rogers Dry Lake – then known as Muroc Dry Lake – a vast, flat expanse formed by ancient geological processes that serves as a unique emergency landing site.

Its hard-packed surface and wide-open area provide a natural safety net for experimental aircraft, offering a margin of safety that’s critical during high-risk missions.

With the U.S. involvement in World War II, the area’s importance grew, bringing additional resources, new facilities, and a focus on research, and experimentation with new aircraft designs.

Today, the airspace above the region includes the Bell X-1 Supersonic Corridor, a designated section of restricted airspace within the Edwards test range. This corridor provides a safe, controlled environment for supersonic and transonic flight testing, enabling precision maneuvers at high speeds over the Mojave Desert.

Combined with nearly year-round flying weather and low population density, this unique airspace supports uninterrupted flight operations for NASA’s aeronautics programs.

A culture of innovation

NASA’s X-plane legacy is deeply rooted in its history. From the X-1 to the X-59, NASA has developed dozens of X-planes – many flight-tested at Edwards with contributions by Armstrong and other NASA centers.

These experimental aircraft were designed to push the boundaries of flight and test new technologies. At Edwards, NASA teams have tested everything from lifting body designs – critical for spacecraft and reentry research – to digital fly-by-wire systems, which have become standard in commercial aviation.

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>>24319831

This culture of innovation continues today as NASA’s aeronautics team – leveraging Armstrong’s flight research expertise – advances advanced air mobility, electrified propulsion, and autonomous flight systems.

The center’s location and infrastructure enable rapid prototyping and testing, accelerating NASA’s ability to mature next generation aviation technologies.

Partnerships with the U.S. Air Force further strengthen NASA’s capabilities. Shared resources, coordinated airspace management, and joint operations allow NASA researchers to conduct complex missions with support and safety protocols, while collaborating across NASA centers and industry.

Supporting a broad mission portfolio

While Armstrong is best known for experimental aircraft, NASA’s work at Edwards supports a diverse mission portfolio.

The center supports Earth science missions, airborne sensor testing, and planetary exploration. Its aircraft – including ER-2 and Gulfstream – carry instruments that study climate, weather, and atmospheric composition, contributing vital data to NASA’s science goals in partnership with agency science teams.

Edwards’ location and infrastructure enable these missions by providing access to high-altitude corridors, stable flying conditions, and the ability to integrate new technologies quickly.

Whether it’s testing sensors for Mars exploration or flying over hurricanes to collect data, NASA’s airborne science, supported by Armstrong’s flight operations, advance agency priorities.

Milestones that matter

NASA’s flight research heritage at Edwards includes milestones that have shaped aviation history:

1947: Chuck Yeager breaks the sound barrier in the Bell X-1.

1960s-70s: Lifting body aircraft tested at Edwards lay the groundwork for the space shuttle. NASA tested the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle at Edwards in the mid-1960s to develop techniques later used by Apollo astronauts.

1980s: Digital fly-by-wire systems validated at NASA Armstrong become standard in commercial aviation.

2000s and beyond: Two successful flights of a scramjet-powered airplane, the X-43A, at hypersonic speeds – greater than Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound. Autonomous aircraft and drones tested for Earth science and defense applications. The X-59 prepares to demonstrate quiet supersonic flight over land, potentially reshaping commercial aviation.

Each of these achievements reflects NASA collaboration, drawing on location, infrastructure, and culture to deliver agency impact.

As aviation enters a new era of fuel savings, autonomy, and accessibility, NASA’s aeronautics team – through flight research at Armstrong and elsewhere – remains steady to test the technologies that will define the future of flight.

Looking ahead

With growing interest in advanced air mobility, high-speed flight research, and new aircraft technologies, NASA’s integrated approach is more critical than ever.

NASA Armstrong’s flight test discipline and safety frameworks contribute to agency-wide risk management and systems engineering, supporting NASA’s top priorities – from commercial supersonic technologies to the safety practices that underpin human spaceflight.

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Sierra Nevada Storm Leaves Behind Dramatic Wave Clouds, NASA Image Show

February 27, 2026

A powerful winter storm that swept through California earlier this month has blanketed the Sierra Nevada in one of its snowiest five-day stretches in decades, with NASA satellite imagery capturing dramatic cloud formations trailing the system.

On February 24, 2026, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite captured a true-color image of the spectacular cloud formations over Nevada.

Storm System Creates Wave-Like Cloud

Describing the clouds seen in the image, NASA explained that they appear to be a type of wave cloud. This cloud formation is created by turbulence when air blows over a towering object, such as a mountain.

The Sierra Nevada range is located west of the image and the prevailing wind appears to be generally westward when the image was taken, according to NASA.

These types of clouds usually form when a mass of air is forced upward, NASA explained. The air cools as it climbs and, if there is adequate moisture in the air, the water condenses to form clouds.

Once the air passes over the obstacle, it sinks again, warming as it descends and prevents clouds from forming.

However, just like ripples are formed in water, the initial disturbance results in a propagating wave that spreads, causing air to rise up and fall again until the wave dissipates.

This ultimately leads to long bands of clouds that mark the crests of waves, with cloud-free spaces between them looking like the troughs of waves.

Historic Winter Storm

An atmospheric river triggered a strong winter storm in the Sierra Nevada mountains, bringing heavy snowfall across the Sierra and signaling a shift from an unusually dry winter period.

The heavy snowfall even led to the temporary closure of Yosemite National Park, NASA said.

The Northern Sierra snowpack reached 53% of its typical snow level on February 22, 2026, while the Central Sierra reached 73%, and the Southern Sierra reported 98% of its normal snowpack, according to NASA.

The total snowfall from February 16 to 20, 2026, marked the third-highest five-day snowfall on record since 1970, the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab noted.

The heavy snowfall helped stabilize Sierra’s snowpack conditions, which had been declining earlier this season. It arrived at a crucial point in California’s water year as a dry January had reduced snowpack levels.

Referred to as California’s “frozen reservoir,” the Sierra snowpack supplies roughly 30% of the state’s water needs. Snowpack stores winter precipitation and releases it gradually, reducing flood risk and supporting water supplies during arid seasons.

https://www.edhat.com/california/news/sierra-nevada-storm-leaves-behind-dramatic-wave-clouds-nasa-image-show/

Watch Real 4K Footage Of Earth from Space | This Week In Orbit

Feb 28, 2026

This episode features lightning over Brazil, glowing cities across Asia and the Middle East, sweeping Saharan dust and beautiful sunrise timelapses from orbit.

✨ New view every 20 seconds

🌎 World-exclusive orbital footage

🎥 Relaxing, inspiring, and mesmerizing

Sit back and enjoy the most beautiful view on Earth.

👇 Comment your favourite moment and subscribe for weekly space views.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Sunrise over Russia & China, Asia

00:20 – Amur River, Russia

00:40 – Fiji, Pacific Ocean

01:00 – Lightning storm near Vilhena, Brazil

01:20 – Palermo, Sicily & Malta, Mediterranean

01:40 – SpaceX Dragon over Montreal & Cape Cod

02:00 – Anguilla & Antigua and Barbuda, Caribbean

02:20 – Sobradinho Reservoir, Brazil

02:40 – Approaching the Yucatan Peninsula, Gulf of Mexico

03:00 – Scorpion Reef, Mexico

03:20 – Hangzhou & Shanghai, China

03:40 – Lisbon, Portugal

04:00 – Callao, Peru

04:20 – Oil & gas flares near Maturín, Venezuela

04:40 – Turin & Milan, Italy

05:00 – San Francisco & Sacramento, California, USA

05:20 – Oil production near Dickinson, North Dakota, USA

05:40 – Melbourne, Australia

06:00 – Saharan dust past West Africa, Atlantic Ocean

06:20 – Aruba & Curaçao, Caribbean

06:40 – Tokyo, Japan

07:00 – Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

07:20 – Abu Dhabi, Dubai & Al Dhaid, UAE

07:40 – Lake Toya, Japan

08:00 – Sunglint & contrails over Spain

08:20 – Sunglint over Fiji, South Pacific Ocean

08:40 – The Falkland Islands, Atlantic Ocean

09:00 – Selincuo Lake, Tibet, China

09:20 – Lake Namucuo, Tibet, China

09:40 – Sahara Desert, Libya

10:00 – LED fishing fleet near Hainan Island, China

10:20 – Daqing, China

10:40 – Timelapse: Sunrise over the North Pacific Ocean

11:00 – Sunglint across rivers & lakes, Madagascar

11:20 – The Canary Islands, Atlantic Ocean

11:40 – Thessaloniki, Greece

12:00 – Madrid, Spain

12:20 – The Himalayas, India

12:40 – The Outback, Western Australia

13:00 – Timelapse: Sunrise over Spain & Algeria

13:20 – Sahara Desert, Algeria

13:40 – Madagascar, Africa

14:00 – Misratah, Libya

14:20 – Timelapse: Atlantic Ocean

14:40 – Approaching Brazil, Atlantic Ocean

15:00 – Credits

🌌 About This Series

This Week in Orbit showcases stunning Earth views captured in continuous 4K from cameras on the International Space Station.

Each episode features:

✔️ World-exclusive space footage

✔️ Cities, deserts, mountains, oceans & weather systems

✔️ Relaxing pacing with a new location every 20 seconds

✔️ A unique astronaut-eye perspective of Earth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXbVMhTwPa0

https://www.sen.com/