{"id":496757,"date":"2026-08-03T14:05:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T04:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/image-article\/apod-2026-august-3-vaporizing-meteor-photobombs-the-lacerta-nebula\/"},"modified":"2026-08-03T14:05:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T04:05:00","slug":"apod-2026-august-3-vaporizing-meteor-photobombs-the-lacerta-nebula","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=496757","title":{"rendered":"APOD: 2026 August 3 \u2013 Vaporizing Meteor Photobombs the Lacerta Nebula"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-secondary-navigation\">\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-wrapper z-top width-100 padding-0\">\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-secondary-navigation width-full border-bottom-1px text-center hds-color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-hdsnav\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"hds-secondary-nav-mobile-button display-flex tablet:display-flex desktop:display-none width-full flex-align-center bg-carbon-90 border-color-carbon-80 color-spacesuit-white\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"hds-secondary-nav-track\"><span>APOD<\/span><svg width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 400 400\" viewBox=\"0 0 400 400\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m4.2 122.2 195.1 195.1 196.5-196.6-37.9-38-157.8 157.8-156.8-156.8z\" \/><\/svg><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-nav-track grid-container grid-container-extrawide padding-0 tablet:padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-2 hds-secondary-navigation-has-breadcrumbs\">\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-breadcrumbs display-none tablet:display-none desktop:display-flex flex-align-center\">\n<nav class=\"usa-breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol class=\"usa-breadcrumb__list\">\n<li class=\"usa-breadcrumb__list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/\" class=\"usa-breadcrumb__link\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>Science<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-breadcrumb__list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/apod\/apod-index\/\" class=\"usa-breadcrumb__link\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>APOD<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-breadcrumb__list-item usa-current\" aria-current=\"page\"><span>APOD: 2026 August 3 \u2013\u2026<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-menu-items\">\n<nav>\n<ul class=\"usa-nav__primary usa-accordion flex-justify-center margin-0\">\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/apod\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Today\u2019s APOD<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/apod\/archive\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Archive<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/apod\/submit\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Submissions<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/apod\/apod-index\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Index<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/apod\/apod-search\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Search<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/apod\/apod-calendar\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Calendar<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/feed\/apod-basic\/\" rel=\"noopener\">RSS<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/apod\/apod-education\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Education<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/apod\/apod-about\/\" rel=\"noopener\">About<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/asterisk.apod.com\/viewtopic.php?t=44980\" rel=\"noopener\">Discuss<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-menu-spacer\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media-detail-hero nasa-gb-align-wide width-full maxw-full margin-y-5 desktop:margin-y-7 padding-x-3 media-detail-hero--suppress-inner-media-caption hds-module alignwide wp-block-nasa-blocks-media-detail-hero\">\n<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block padding-x-0\">\n<p class=\"label margin-bottom-1\">APOD<\/p>\n<p class=\"heading-22 margin-top-0 margin-bottom-2\">Astronomy Picture of the Day<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-md margin-top-0 margin-bottom-3 media-detail-hero__subtext\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/apod\/archive\/\">Discover the cosmos!<\/a> Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"media-detail-hero__media margin-bottom-6\">\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-full\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/apod\/apod\/2026\/august\/MeteorGecko_Burnett_4944.jpg?w=4944&#038;h=3284&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"4944\" height=\"3284\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/apod\/apod\/2026\/august\/MeteorGecko_Burnett_4944.jpg?w=4944&#038;h=3284&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"A dark starfield has a faint red nebula near  the center. A bright streak crosses the image  horizontally from the lower left, filled with faint evaporating wisps in many colors.  Please see the explanation for more detailed information.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/apod\/apod\/2026\/august\/MeteorGecko_Burnett_4944.jpg?w=4944&#038;h=3284&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 4944w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/apod\/apod\/2026\/august\/MeteorGecko_Burnett_4944.jpg?w=300&#038;h=199&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/apod\/apod\/2026\/august\/MeteorGecko_Burnett_4944.jpg?w=768&#038;h=510&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/apod\/apod\/2026\/august\/MeteorGecko_Burnett_4944.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=680&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/apod\/apod\/2026\/august\/MeteorGecko_Burnett_4944.jpg?w=1536&#038;h=1020&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/apod\/apod\/2026\/august\/MeteorGecko_Burnett_4944.jpg?w=2048&#038;h=1360&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2048w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/apod\/apod\/2026\/august\/MeteorGecko_Burnett_4944.jpg?w=400&#038;h=266&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/apod\/apod\/2026\/august\/MeteorGecko_Burnett_4944.jpg?w=600&#038;h=399&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/apod\/apod\/2026\/august\/MeteorGecko_Burnett_4944.jpg?w=900&#038;h=598&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/apod\/apod\/2026\/august\/MeteorGecko_Burnett_4944.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=797&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/cds\/apod\/apod\/2026\/august\/MeteorGecko_Burnett_4944.jpg?w=2000&#038;h=1328&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 4944px) 100vw, 4944px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h1 class=\"display-48 margin-top-0 margin-bottom-3\"><strong>Vaporizing Meteor Photobombs the Lacerta Nebula<\/strong><\/h1>\n<div class=\"grid-row media-detail-hero__content-row\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n<p class=\"p-md margin-0 media-detail-hero__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Explanation:<\/strong> What\u2019s happening to this meteor? This\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/apod.nasa.gov\/apod\/fap\/ap240809.html\" rel=\"noopener\">bright meteor streak<\/a>\u00a0appeared and disappeared quickly during a long exposure of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/apod.nasa.gov\/apod\/fap\/ap250910.html\" rel=\"noopener\">Great Lacerta Nebula<\/a>, seen faintly in red toward the center of the image. The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov\/docs\/StarChild\/solar_system_level2\/meteoroids.html\" rel=\"noopener\">meteoroid<\/a>, likely a small pebble,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.astroleague.org\/what-are-meteors-and-why-do-they-glow\/\" rel=\"noopener\">creates its glow<\/a>\u00a0partly by heating and exciting surrounding air in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-atmosphere\/earths-atmosphere-a-multi-layered-cake\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Earth\u2019s atmosphere<\/a>, but itself vaporizes and leaves wind-blown gas and dust with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/apod.nasa.gov\/apod\/fap\/ap230724.html\" rel=\"noopener\">colors<\/a>\u00a0that give clues to its composition. The featured image was captured last month from\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/deathvalleyobservatories.com\/find-our-location\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Death Valley Observatories<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nevada\" rel=\"noopener\">Nevada<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/user.iiasa.ac.at\/~marek\/fbook\/04\/print\/us.html\" rel=\"noopener\">USA<\/a>. This month, though, is particularly good for\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/apod.nasa.gov\/apod\/fap\/ap250821.html\" rel=\"noopener\">seeing meteors<\/a>. Presently there are <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/solar-system\/meteors-meteorites\/delta-aquariids\/\" rel=\"noopener\">three<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Alpha_Capricornids\" rel=\"noopener\">meteor<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/apod.nasa.gov\/apod\/fap\/ap250812.html\" rel=\"noopener\">showers<\/a> ongoing, although they are currently\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com\/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcREbUigD3ZOb-3oCWkhrRoLJ7de6EcqbfEk2JmNOISeKw&#038;s=10\" rel=\"noopener\">competing for visibility<\/a>\u00a0with the glow of a bright\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/apod.nasa.gov\/apod\/fap\/ap231112.html\" rel=\"noopener\">gibbous Moon<\/a>. The most active of these showers, the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/solar-system\/meteors-meteorites\/perseids\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Perseids<\/a>, will be busiest in about 10 days \u2014 after\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/svs.gsfc.nasa.gov\/5587\/\" rel=\"noopener\">the Moon<\/a>\u00a0has dimmed considerably. This year, the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/earthsky.org\/astronomy-essentials\/everything-you-need-to-know-perseid-meteor-shower\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Perseids peak<\/a>\u00a0nearly coincides with not only a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/solar\/2023\/09\/m\/moon_phases.png\" rel=\"noopener\">new Moon<\/a>, but, from some locations, one that\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/apod.nasa.gov\/apod\/fap\/ap240310.html\" rel=\"noopener\">totally eclipses<\/a>\u00a0the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/sun\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Sun<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Sky Surprise:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/apod.nasa.gov\/apod\/calendar\/allyears.html\" rel=\"noopener\">What picture did APOD feature on your birthday?<\/a>\u00a0(>1995)<br \/><strong>Tomorrow\u2019s picture:<\/strong> open space\u2026\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-none desktop:display-block desktop:grid-col-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 margin-top-3 desktop:margin-top-0\">\n<table class=\"media-detail-hero__meta-table width-full\">\n<tbody>\n<tr class=\"media-detail-hero__meta-row\">\n<th scope=\"row\" class=\"label padding-y-1\">Date:<\/th>\n<td class=\"p-sm padding-y-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAugust 3, 2026\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"media-detail-hero__meta-row\">\n<th scope=\"row\" class=\"label padding-y-1\">Credit &#038; Copyright:<\/th>\n<td class=\"p-sm padding-y-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/telescopius.com\/profile\/tom_burnett\" rel=\"noopener\">Tom Burnett<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"media-detail-hero__meta-row\">\n<th scope=\"row\" class=\"label padding-y-1\">Authors &#038; editors:<\/th>\n<td class=\"p-sm padding-y-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRobert Nemiroff, Jerry Bonnell, Cecilia Chirenti, Keighley Rockcliffe\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"media-detail-hero__meta-row\">\n<th scope=\"row\" class=\"label padding-y-1\">A service of:<\/th>\n<td class=\"p-sm padding-y-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.gsfc.nasa.gov\/astrophysics\/\"  rel=\"noopener\">ASD<\/a> at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/\"  rel=\"noopener\">NASA<\/a> \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers\/goddard\/\"  rel=\"noopener\">GSFC<\/a>,<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/learn\/about-science-activation\/\"  rel=\"noopener\">NASA Science Activation<\/a> &#038; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mtu.edu\/\"  rel=\"noopener\">Michigan Tech. U.<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-wide nasa-button-link padding-y-1 padding-x-0 hds-module alignwide wp-block-nasa-blocks-related-link\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/apod\/random-apod\/\"  class=\"button-primary button-primary-md link-external-false\" aria-label=\"Random APOD Generator\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"line-height-alt-1\">Random APOD Generator<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"button-primary-circle\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"height:1px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-module alignwide wp-block-smd-block-next-prev\">\n<div class=\"smd-next-prev-buttons-titles\">\n            <a class=\"smd-next-prev__prev\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/image-article\/apod-2026-august-2-a-fire-rainbow-over-west-virginia\/\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-next-prev-nav-arrow hds-next-prev-arrow-prev\">\n                    <svg version=\"1.1\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"9px\" height=\"9px\" viewBox=\"0 0 9 9\"><path class=\"st0\" d=\"M3.5,4.5l3.7-3.6L6.3,0L1.8,4.5L6.3,9l0.9-0.9L3.5,4.5z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n                <\/div>\n<div class=\"smd-next-prev-buttons-titles__content\">\n<div class=\"smd-next-prev-buttons-titles__prev-label\">\n                        Yesterday&#8217;s Image                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"smd-next-prev-buttons-titles__prev\">\n                        APOD: 2026 August 2 \u2013 A Fire Rainbow over West Virginia                    <\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>            <\/a><br \/>\n            <a class=\"smd-next-prev__next smd-next-prev__disabled\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/image-article\/apod-2026-august-3-vaporizing-meteor-photobombs-the-lacerta-nebula\/#\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"smd-next-prev-buttons-titles__content\">\n<div class=\"smd-next-prev-buttons-titles__next-label\">\n                        Tomorrow&#8217;s Image                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"smd-next-prev-buttons-titles__next\">\n                                            <\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-next-prev-nav-arrow hds-next-prev-arrow-next\">\n                    <svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"9px\" height=\"9px\" viewBox=\"0 0 9 9\"><path class=\"st0\" d=\"M5.5,4.5L1.8,8.1L2.7,9l4.5-4.5L2.7,0L1.8,0.9L5.5,4.5z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n                <\/div>\n<p>            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 August 3 \u2013\u2026 Today\u2019s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss \u00a0 APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day 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. Vaporizing Meteor Photobombs [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20768],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-496757","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-apod"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO Pro 5.0.0.1 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 August 3 \u2013\u2026 Today\u2019s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! 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