APOD: 2026 August 3 – Vaporizing Meteor Photobombs the Lacerta Nebula
The post APOD: 2026 August 3 – Vaporizing Meteor Photobombs the Lacerta Nebula appeared first on NASA Science .
On August 3, 2026, an astronomy picture of the day captured a meteor streaking through the Great Lacerta Nebula, a faint red glow seen in the center of the image. The meteoroid, possibly a small pebble, caused its glow by heating the surrounding air in Earth's atmosphere. However, the meteoroid itself quickly vaporized, leaving behind wind-blown gas and dust with colors that hinted at its composition.
The photograph was taken at Death Valley Observatories in Nevada, USA. As of August 2026, three meteor showers were ongoing, though they competed for visibility with the bright gibbous Moon. The most active of these, the Perseids, would peak in about ten days, coinciding with a new Moon and potentially a solar eclipse in some locations.
Written by urgent.news from NASA Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
