APOD: 2026 July 30 - Red Sun trough Wildfire Smoke - NASA Science
APODAstronomy Picture of the DayDiscover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional. . .
APODAstronomy Picture of the DayDiscover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Explanation:This could be the view from anexoplanetorbiting around ared dwarf star, but it is our ownSun. This imageof was taken on July 22, 2026, in theOkanagan regionin the Canadian province ofBritish Columbia. Wildfire smokefrom thePacific Northwestacted as asolar filter, allowing the photographer to take this photo of the Sun directly. Severalsunspotsare also visible in this eerie image; just below and right of the center isAR 4493, a fast evolving, giantactive solar regionand sunspot group. The smoke is made of tiny particles that help block andscatterlight with bluercolors, so the light we see coming from the Sun isdimmer and redderthan usual (but it is never safe tostare directlyat the Sun). Sunsets and sunrises are alsomore colorfulbecause of the smoke. Some6 billion yearsfrom now, the Sun will actually start to turn redder as it approaches itsred giantphase. Tomorrow's picture:interstellar thingyDateJuly 30, 2026CreditDebra CeravoloAuthors & editors:Robert Nemiroff, Jerry Bonnell, Keighley Rockcliffe, Cecilia ChirentiA service of:ASDatNASA/GSFC,NASA Science Activation&Michigan Tech. U.