Astronomy Picture of the Day [1]Discover 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. 2026 February 18 [2]A starfield is shown filled with red glowing gas. On the right is a blue-glowing complex nebula, while on the left there is a long encircling arc of red gas. Please see the explanation for more detailed information. Orion's Cradle Image Credit & Copyright: [3]Piotr Czerski Explanation: Cradled in red-glowing hydrogen gas, stars are being born in Orion. These [4]stellar nurseries lie at the edge of the giant [5]Orion molecular cloud complex, some 1,500 [6]light-years away. [7]This detailed view spans about 12 [8]degrees across the center of the well-known constellation, with the [9]Great Orion Nebula, the closest large [10]star-forming region, visible toward the lower right. The deep mosaic also includes, near the top center, the [11]Flame Nebula and the [12]Horsehead Nebula. Image data acquired with a [13]hydrogen-alpha filter adds other remarkable features to this wide-angle cosmic vista: pervasive tendrils of energized atomic hydrogen gas and portions of the surrounding [14]Barnard's Loop. While the [15]Orion Nebula and many [16]stars in Orion are easy to see with the unaided eye, emission from the extensive [17]interstellar gas is faint and much [18]harder to record, even in telescopic views of the nebula-rich complex. Sky Surprise: [19]What picture did APOD feature on your birthday? (after 1995) Tomorrow's picture: open space __________________________________________________________________ [20]< | [21]Archive | [22]Submissions | [23]Index | [24]Search | [25]Calendar | [26]RSS | [27]Education | [28]About APOD | [29]Discuss | [30]> __________________________________________________________________ Authors & editors: [31]Robert Nemiroff ([32]MTU) & [33]Jerry Bonnell ([34]UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn [35]Specific rights apply. [36]NASA Web Privacy, [37]Accessibility, [38]Notices; A service of: [39]ASD at [40]NASA / [41]GSFC, [42]NASA Science Activation & [43]Michigan Tech. U. References 1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html 2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2602/OrionBarnard_Czerski_3000.jpg 3. https://app.astrobin.com/u/PiotrC#gallery 4. https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/jpl/where-are-stars-made-nasas-spitzer-spies-a-hot-spot/ 5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orion_molecular_cloud_complex 6. https://science.nasa.gov/exoplanets/what-is-a-light-year/ 7. https://app.astrobin.com/u/PiotrC?i=59s59h 8. https://planetcalc.com/1897/ 9. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241104.html 10. https://science.nasa.gov/universe/stars/ 11. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap210412.html 12. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap251210.html 13. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen-alpha 14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090224.html 15. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orion_Nebula 16. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220111.html 17. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstellar_medium 18. https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/4vi9kq/find_a_cat/ 19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html 20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260217.html 21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html 22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html 23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html 24. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search 25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html 26. https://apod.com/feed.rss 27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html 28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html 29. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=260218 30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260219.html 31. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html 32. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/ 33. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html 34. http://www.astro.umd.edu/ 35. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply 36. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html 37. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/ 38. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/ 39. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/ 40. https://www.nasa.gov/ 41. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/ 42. https://science.nasa.gov/learners 43. http://www.mtu.edu/