Astronomy Picture of the Day ·

Shapley 1: An Annular Planetary Nebula

The Astronomy Picture of the Day for March 4, 2026 is “Shapley 1: An Annular Planetary Nebula,” an image. The picture is copyrighted by its creator (Image Credit & Copyright: Peter Bresseler ; Text: Keighley Rockcliffe ( NASA GSFC , UMBC CSST , CRESST II )). The original explanation runs about 139 words.

A starfield is shown with a large circular blue ring in the center. In the ring's center is a bright blue spot. Please see the explanation for more detailed information.
Credit: Image Credit & Copyright: Peter Bresseler ; Text: Keighley Rockcliffe ( NASA GSFC , UMBC CSST , CRESST II ) Copyrighted Shown from science.nasa.gov. Not hosted by OpenOrbit.

From the explanation

“What’s looking back at you isn’t a cosmic eye, but Shapley 1 , a beautifully symmetric planetary nebula . 1 , bejewels the southern sky constellation of the Carpenter’s Square ( Norma ).”

— APOD editors, March 4, 2026

Read the full explanation on science.nasa.gov

At a glance

Date
March 4, 2026
Type
Image
Credit
Credit: Image Credit & Copyright: Peter Bresseler ; Text: Keighley Rockcliffe ( NASA GSFC , UMBC CSST , CRESST II )
Copyright
Copyrighted by the credited creator. Ask the copyright holder before reusing it.
Explanation length
About 139 words

All of March 2026 → · 2026 by month → · Full archive since 1995 →

Topics in this entry

Nebulae

Topics are matched from words in the title and explanation.

On this day: March 4 in other years

On Amazon

Popular picks for space fans

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Electronics Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition 32GB Read astronomy and space-history books anywhere. View on Amazon → Electronics Bose QuietComfort Wireless Headphones Noise-cancelling headphones for documentaries and launch livestreams. View on Amazon →

Source

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.