Astronomy Picture of the Day · May 4, 2003

A Sonic Boom

The Astronomy Picture of the Day for May 4, 2003 is “A Sonic Boom,” an image. It is credited to Credit: Ensign John Gay, USS Constellation , US Navy. The original explanation runs about 157 words.

From the explanation

“Many people have heard a sonic boom, but few have seen one. When an airplane travels at a speed faster than sound, density waves of sound emitted by the plane cannot precede the plane, and so accumulate in a cone behind the plane.”

— APOD editors, May 4, 2003

Read the full explanation on science.nasa.gov

At a glance

Date: May 4, 2003
Type: Image
Credit: Credit: Ensign John Gay, USS Constellation , US Navy
Copyright: No copyright notice on the entry. Check the credited institution’s own usage rules before reusing it.
Explanation length: About 157 words

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On this day: May 4 in other years

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Source

Astronomy Picture of the Day, May 4, 2003 — science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2003-may-4-a-sonic-boom

Copy taken Oct 28, 2026, 2:39 AM EDT. The image and explanation belong to their creators. OpenOrbit is not affiliated with or endorsed by NASA.