Starship Asterisk*

APOD Turns Eighteen

Explanation: The first APOD appeared eighteen years ago today, on 1995 June 16. Although garnering only 14 pageviews on that day, we are proud to estimate that APOD has now served over one billion space-related images over the past eighteen years. That early beginning, along with a nearly unchanging format, has allowed APOD to be a consistent and familiar site on a web frequently filled with change. Many people don't know, though, that APOD is now translated daily into many major languages. We again thank our readers, astrophotographers, and NASA for their continued support, but ask that any potentially congratulatory e-mail go this year to the volunteers all around the world who translate APOD's captions daily, many times with considerable effort. Some APOD images are featured in the above spectacular collage visualizing APOD as a classic film reel, submitted by an APOD enthusiast skilled in digital image manipulation. How many APOD images can you identify?

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Rather a few!
Happy Birthday,
and Thank You All.

Congratulations and big Thank You to all who make it happen ! It's been close to 2 years, it has rarely happened that I have not checked APOD as soon as it gets published. We can't express our gratitude in words for providing immense knowledge and pleasure. I hope to write this even 18 years from now.

Best web page and my favorite! I've been coming here since 2002 and am never bored...very, very far from it. Keep posting APOD and we'll keep coming back. You're and inspiration and set a great example to kids of all ages!

Thank you all very much at APOD!

Happy Birthday! Congrats on 18 years!

Not sure how long I've been viewing APOD but it's been my home page since well before 2000. Over that time, I've had different browsers and different computers but always the first thing I do when using a new machine is set APOD as my home page. Never boring, frequently inspiring, often beautiful, always interesting.

Thanks for all the work through the years.

And, of course, happy birthday!

APOD Robot wrote:How many APOD images can you identify?

1/ http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130510.html
3/ http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap110923.html
4/ http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap111026.html
6/ http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130118.html
9/ http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap120518.html (?)

So now APOD can join the Air Force, vote and have a celebratory drink (in some states).

Congratulations! Well done and many thanks to all who keep the web-site running, write the comments and supply the wonderful images. There can only be very few – if any- other websites that have kept up a supply of such gorgeous images, new each day - and with a wonderful sense of humour every April 1st. The comment system is exemplary – a quick scan if I am pushed for time, or an enjoyable and detailed learning experience (via the links) if I want to really learn about something. As a science teacher (physicist), I’ve followed APOD since before 2005 – and the amount I have learned (via the comments and their hyper-links) about astronomy, “space”, the atmosphere and the related physics topics is - err- astronomical! I have recommended APOD to countless people.

Congratulations APOD
Very good work in 18 years!!

Happy b-day APOD!

I enjoy checking the APOD when I get to work almost everyday. I have shown many people the spectacular photos on this sight. Keep up the great work. Thanks, GO ><>'

Yes, congrats to all - and thanks for the pictures! I have copies of every one, including screen-grabs of a still from every video - and a new desktop image every day

Happy Birthday APOD and translators. I have been following this site for perhaps 10 years now. I recommend it all the time to friends and acquaintances. I enjoy it everyday.

Congratulations and thank you, for some of the best pictures and most intelligent discussions online.
Alltogether - eighteen more years!
John

Happy birthday APOD!
Thanks to everyone who cares and supports APOD and I hope you like my special design to APOD birthday image.

I visit the apod since 2009, when a professor of astrophysics recommended me the site. In his words, "the most beautiful images already photographed the universe"
This in undergraduate biological sciences. I have learned a lot since then. Congratulations o/
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap120122.html

johnbrandt wrote:
So now APOD can join the Air Force, vote and have a celebratory drink (in some states).

Otto Posterman should go flying with Valentina Tereshkova (50th )
and have a glass of Guinness with Leopold Bloom (109th).

Congratulations, and many happy returns of the day!

APOD has been my home page for at least 16 years of your 18, and my computer has most all of the pictures in 4 different folders absorbing a great portion of my old XP hard drive. I pass them on to my grandson for his wonderment, and bless him, his bedroom walls covered with images from the Universe.

As I live in Tampa, Florida, I always was notified of the next launch from Cape Canaveral on the East Coast for lift off.

Truly, all peoples of the world are interested in the content that you bring to us faithfully each day.

"Ah yes; I remember it well."

– Maurice Chevalier


I sat at my desk at the Climate and Radiation Branch, searched for 'Astronomy' in Alta Vista and there you were.
(circa June 20, 1995)

Still the best damn page on the 'Net —

I was late to the party--I've only been checking in on APOD every day for about 12 or 13 years. The amazing content provided here is always a bright spot in my day.

At times, the content of the captions is quite mind-bogglingly complex, and I can only say, Bravo! to those who take on the task of translating not on the science, but also the language to make this wonderful resource available to brighten ever more people's days.

And thank you for keeping the simple format--there's no need for distracting backgrounds and blinking text when you're featuring the wonders of the universe!

Happy Birthday to my favorite website. You're the very first site I go to every day and I've been doing this for years.

Many happy returns!

Always enjoy the site although some days I wonder if the explanation is in a language other than English (American version). The explanations written by the astronomer types can be somewhat challenging for this nearly octogenarian! But, having said that, Keep up the great work!

Happy Birthday.