Astronomy Picture of the Day ·

Leaving Earth

The Astronomy Picture of the Day for March 22, 2026 is “Leaving Earth,” a video. It is credited to Video Credit: NASA , JHU Applied Physics Lab , Carnegie Inst. Washington , MESSENGER. The original explanation runs about 136 words.

Watch the video on the original page
Credit: Video Credit: NASA , JHU Applied Physics Lab , Carnegie Inst. Washington , MESSENGER Shown from the original page. Not hosted by OpenOrbit.

From the explanation

“What would it look like to leave planet Earth? Such an event was recorded visually in great detail by the MESSENGER spacecraft as it swung back past the Earth in 2005 on its way in toward the planet Mercury .”

— APOD editors, March 22, 2026

Read the full explanation on science.nasa.gov

At a glance

Date
March 22, 2026
Type
Video
Credit
Credit: Video Credit: NASA , JHU Applied Physics Lab , Carnegie Inst. Washington , MESSENGER
Copyright
No copyright notice on the entry. Check the credited institution’s own usage rules before reusing it.
Explanation length
About 136 words

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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.