Astronomy Picture of the Day ·

Curious Cometary Knots in the Helix Nebula

The Astronomy Picture of the Day for August 4, 2026 is “Curious Cometary Knots in the Helix Nebula,” an image. It is credited to Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Image Processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI). The original explanation runs about 157 words.

A closeup of a small section of the Helix Nebula, an expanding shell of gas and dust. Thousands of orange and gold comet-like pillars stream upward from the bottom, like thin liquid blown up a sheet of glass. These pillars are around the ci
Credit: Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Image Processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI) Shown from science.nasa.gov. Not hosted by OpenOrbit.

From the explanation

“What causes unusual knots of gas and dust in planetary nebulas? Seen also in the Ring Nebula, the Dumbbell Nebula and NGC 2392, the knots’ existence was not initially predicted, and their origins are still not well understood.”

— APOD editors, August 4, 2026

Read the full explanation on science.nasa.gov

At a glance

Date
August 4, 2026
Type
Image
Credit
Credit: Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Image Processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI)
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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Topics in this entry

Nebulae

Topics are matched from words in the title and explanation.

On this day: August 4 in other years

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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.