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 July 30
   [2]A deep red sun shows several sunspots. Clouds and haze are visible.

                       Red Sun through Wildfire Smoke
                 Image Credit & Copyright: [3]Debra Ceravolo
     Text: [4]Cecilia Chirenti ([5]NASA [6]GSFC, [7]UMCP, [8]CRESST II)

   Explanation: This could be the view from an [9]exoplanet orbiting
   around a [10]red dwarf star, but it is our own [11]Sun. [12]This image
   was taken on July 22, 2026, in the [13]Okanagan region in the Canadian
   province of [14]British Columbia. [15]Wildfire smoke from the
   [16]Pacific Northwest acted as a [17]solar filter, allowing the
   photographer to take this photo of the Sun directly. Several
   [18]sunspots are also visible in this eerie image; just below and right
   of the center is [19]AR 4493, a fast evolving, giant [20]active solar
   region and sunspot group. The smoke is made of tiny particles that help
   block and [21]scatter light with bluer [22]colors, so the light we see
   coming from the Sun is [23]dimmer and redder than usual (but it is
   never safe to [24]stare directly at the Sun). Sunsets and sunrises are
   also [25]more colorful because of the smoke. Some [26]6 billion years
   from now, the Sun will actually start to turn redder as it approaches
   its [27]red giant phase.

                      Tomorrow's picture: What's next?
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    Authors & editors: [39]Robert Nemiroff ([40]MTU) & [41]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([42]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [43]Specific rights apply.
            [44]NASA Web Privacy, [45]Accessibility, [46]Notices;
                A service of: [47]ASD at [48]NASA / [49]GSFC,
                         [50]NASA Science Activation
                           & [51]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2607/red_sun.jpg
   3. https://www.instagram.com/debraceravolo/
   4. https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/sci/bio/cecilia.chirenti
   5. https://www.nasa.gov/
   6. https://www.nasa.gov/goddard/
   7. https://www.astro.umd.edu/people/cecilia-chirenti
   8. https://cresst2.umd.edu/
   9. https://science.nasa.gov/exoplanets/
  10. https://www.britannica.com/science/red-dwarf-star
  11. https://science.nasa.gov/sun/
  12. https://www.instagram.com/p/DbH_V37lKyN/
  13. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okanagan
  14. https://www.supernaturalbc.com/
  15. https://fire.airnow.gov/
  16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Northwest
  17. https://www.usa.canon.com/learning/training-articles/training-articles-list/being-safe-using-solar-filters
  18. https://science.nasa.gov/sun/sunspots/
  19. https://www.friendsofnasa.org/2026/07/fast-evolving-sunspot-ar-4493-larger.html
  20. https://scied.ucar.edu/image/solar-active-regions-sunspots-uv-image
  21. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mie_scattering
  22. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/science/science-behind-the-discoveries/wavelengths/
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130829.html
  24. https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1505628346881-b72b27e84530
  25. https://weather.com/science/weather-explainers/news/2025-08-05-wildfire-smoke-red-sunset-sunrise-scattering-explained
  26. https://science.nasa.gov/exoplanets/resources/life-and-death/chapter-6/
  27. https://science.nasa.gov/universe/stars/types/#red-giants
  28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260729.html
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  31. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  32. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  33. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  34. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  35. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  36. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  37. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=260730
  38. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260731.html
  39. https://www.mtu.edu/physics/department/faculty/nemiroff/
  40. https://www.mtu.edu/physics/
  41. https://inspirehep.net/authors/1073087
  42. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  43. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  44. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  45. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  46. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  47. https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/astrophysics/
  48. https://www.nasa.gov/
  49. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  50. https://science.nasa.gov/learn/about-science-activation/
  51. http://www.mtu.edu/