← Sunday 1 Novembernote 10 of 10
Astronomy and spaceflightSun 1 Nov 2026 · 10 of 10

NASA’s Halloween-Themed APOD Shows Earth’s Aurora Over Iceland’s Hverir

Unsupported claims · 5/6 supported1 cited · 1 min read

nasa.gov reports that the Astronomy Picture of the Day for 2026‑10‑31 is titled “Night on a Spooky Planet” . nasa.gov reports that the image depicts Earth on a dark, storm‑filled night at Hverir, a geothermally active area in northeastern Iceland . nasa.gov reports that greenish auroral displays in the picture are caused by geomagnetic storms triggered by solar activity, with energetic particles entering Earth’s upper atmosphere at high latitudes . nasa.gov reports that steam and gas venting from local fumaroles appear as ghostly towers against the northern lights . nasa.gov reports that auroral activity is currently high because the Sun is in the early phases of decline from the peak of its solar activity cycle, and the post wishes a happy Halloween to match the spooky theme .

Why it matters. nasa.gov reports that the Halloween‑themed post aims to engage the public with astronomy during the holiday season .

Earlier on Astronomy and spaceflight

Sat 31 Oct 2026JWST reveals detailed structure of Cat’s Head Nebulanasa.gov reports that the James Webb Space Telescope captured a mid‑infrared view of the Cat’s Head Nebula released on Oct. 29, 2026. nasa.gov reports that the image reveals intricate structures within the nebular pillar. nasa.gov reports that the distinctive “cat’s head” shape was likely sculpted by intense ultraviolet radiation and winds from massive stars in the Carina Nebula. nasa.gov reports that stellar feedback is eroding surrounding gas and dust while denser material within the pillar currently resists erosion.Sat 31 Oct 2026NASA Announces MAX POWER Aerospace Expo to Run Nov 6-8 at Kennedy Space Centernasa.gov reports that the MAX POWER aerospace expo and air show will take place from Friday, Nov. 6 through Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026 near the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. nasa.gov reports that the event will include park experiences showcasing the newest aircraft, autonomous vehicles, and technologies, including NASA’s quiet supersonic X‑59 plane and partner displays of Moon rovers and spacecraft. nasa.gov reports that visitors will have opportunities to meet NASA leadership, astronauts, engineers, and scientists, with public gates opening at 9 a.m. EST on Nov. 7 and Nov. 8. nasa.gov reports that the agency will share multiple news updates during the weekend, including hosting a news conference.Fri 30 Oct 2026NASA map identifies 13 potential source sites for ancient Martian meteorite Teghaza 001nasa.gov reports that the map shows 13 locations on Mars that match the mineralogy and chemistry of the meteorite Teghaza 001. nasa.gov reports that Teghaza 001 is one of the most ancient Martian meteorites ever found on Earth. nasa.gov reports that scientists cannot definitively determine the meteorite’s origin, but clues link it to highlands in Mars’ southern hemisphere. nasa.gov reports that the base map uses data from the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter on the Mars Global Surveyor mission, and the identified areas were derived using data from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.