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 April 15
      [2]The relatively small International Space Station sits atop the
    image, about to transit in front of the illuminated Moon. Please see
               the explanation for more detailed information.

                          The ISS Transits the Moon
                Image Credit & Copyright: [3]Sébastien Borie
   Text: [4]Keighley Rockcliffe ([5]NASA [6]GSFC, [7]UMBC CSST, [8]CRESST
                                     II)

   Explanation: Nope, that is not an alien spaceship landing on the Moon!
   This is an image of [9]the International Space Station (ISS) as it
   begins to transit in front of [10]the Moon. The ISS is in [11]low-Earth
   orbit (LEO) where it wizzes around the Earth every 90 minutes.
   [12]Orbiting the Earth 16 times per day for 25 years, the ISS has
   photobombed many familiar celestial objects including [13]Venus,
   [14]Mars, [15]Saturn, and [16]the Sun. [17]Thousands of experiments led
   by researchers from over one hundred countries have been conducted on
   the ISS. [18]Growing protein crystals in low-gravity was [19]one of the
   first experiments onboard the ISS and continues to contribute to new
   medical treatments. ISS astronauts study plant growth, water recycling,
   human health, and more to [20]support the Artemis missions which will
   take humans farther than they’ve ever gone before. Next time you are
   out and about at night, try to [21]spot the ISS zooming across the sky!

                 Tomorrow's picture: the night sky in Brazil
     __________________________________________________________________

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    Authors & editors: [33]Robert Nemiroff ([34]MTU) & [35]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([36]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [37]Specific rights apply.
            [38]NASA Web Privacy, [39]Accessibility, [40]Notices;
                A service of: [41]ASD at [42]NASA / [43]GSFC,
                         [44]NASA Science Activation
                           & [45]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2604/iss_moon_transit.jpeg
   3. https://www.instagram.com/_xeratus/
   4. https://kerockcliffe.com/
   5. https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/sci/bio/keighley.e.rockcliffe
   6. https://www.nasa.gov/goddard/
   7. https://csst.umbc.edu/directory/
   8. https://cresst2.umd.edu/
   9. https://www.nasa.gov/international-space-station/
  10. https://science.nasa.gov/moon/
  11. https://www.space.com/low-earth-orbit
  12. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap251208.html
  13. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250411.html
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200923.html
  15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250718.html
  16. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250521.html
  17. https://www.nasa.gov/missions/station/iss-research/25-year-of-scientific-discovery-aboard-international-space-station/
  18. https://www.nasa.gov/missions/station/iss-research/crystallizing-proteins-in-space-helping-to-identify-potential-treatments-for-diseases/
  19. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20020024139
  20. https://www.nasa.gov/missions/station/iss-research/space-station-research-contributes-to-artemis-ii/
  21. https://www.nasa.gov/spot-the-station/
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260414.html
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  26. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  28. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  31. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=260415
  32. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260416.html
  33. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  34. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  35. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  36. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  37. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  38. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  39. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  40. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  41. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  42. https://www.nasa.gov/
  43. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  44. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  45. http://www.mtu.edu/