Astronomy Picture of the Day ·

The Cotton Candy Clouds of Rho Ophiuchi

The Astronomy Picture of the Day for July 1, 2026 is “The Cotton Candy Clouds of Rho Ophiuchi,” an image. The picture is copyrighted by its creator (Image Credit & Copyright: Ángel Molina Text: Keighley Rockcliffe ( NASA GSFC , UMBC CSST , CRESST II )). The original explanation runs about 169 words.

A handful of different types of clouds splatter across the image, with bright stars embedded within. Dust blocks some parts of the clouds. Many small stars cover the background, with a cluster of them sitting in the bottom right beneath all
Credit: Image Credit & Copyright: Ángel Molina Text: Keighley Rockcliffe ( NASA GSFC , UMBC CSST , CRESST II ) Copyrighted Shown from science.nasa.gov. Not hosted by OpenOrbit.

From the explanation

“Although they look like cotton candy, you cannot eat these clouds! Taken in Cádiz, Spain , today’s image features the Rho Ophiuchi complex , a rich tapestry of young and old astronomical phenomena.”

— APOD editors, July 1, 2026

Read the full explanation on science.nasa.gov

At a glance

Date
July 1, 2026
Type
Image
Credit
Credit: Image Credit & Copyright: Ángel Molina 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 169 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.