APOD appears to have ended

R. Jay GaBanyHabib SekhaJohn Hayes
30 replies2.3k views
Habib Sekha avatar

Unfortunately it seems that APOD has come to an end.

From their website: “Due to the lapse in federal government funding, NASA is not updating this website. We sincerely regret this inconvenience.”

Although this is highly unfortunate, let’s hope that at least the archive will still be hosted now and in the future.

Salvatore Iovene avatar

That's very sad to hear, after so many years. I should reach out to hear if they'd work with AstroBin to mirror it on its infrastructure.

Arun H avatar
It will not be permanent. As soon as the shutdown is resolved, I assume funding will be restored. I would be shocked if it is ended for good. It is probably classified as “non essential”.
Well Written
Brad T avatar

Arun H · Oct 3, 2025, 09:42 PM

It will not be permanent. As soon as the shutdown is resolved, I assume funding will be restored. I would be shocked if it is ended for good. It is probably classified as “non essential”.

I hope you’re right, but NASA’s budget has been absolutely gutted and slashed in the last eight months .

Very sad news indeed.

Well Written
Dark Matters Astrophotography avatar

Salvatore Iovene · Oct 3, 2025 at 09:34 PM

That's very sad to hear, after so many years. I should reach out to hear if they'd work with AstroBin to mirror it on its infrastructure.

Happy to help out as well!

Habib Sekha avatar

Salvatore Iovene · Oct 3, 2025, 09:34 PM

That's very sad to hear, after so many years. I should reach out to hear if they'd work with AstroBin to mirror it on its infrastructure.

There are many mirror sites, mostly private initiatives and translated in their homeland language.

So probably not unlikely that there would not be an objection to your idea. More so because there is a mirror site in the UK in the English language.

What might be also interesting is if it could continue with the same people in the same format on Astrobin’s infrastructure but still as an independent APOD. I would be more than happy to donate on an annual basis a ‘small’ fee if needed.

Quinn Groessl avatar

Looking back the last time there was a government shut down they posted throughout - or at least they back dated posts. I’m guessing they’ll be back, and as in my most nonpartisan way of saying it, the only difference is the crybabies causing this whole rift.

SemiPro avatar

“Lapse” is the keyword here. I imagine once the budget it resolved, APOD will return! If it was permanent they would of said so.

Tony Gondola avatar

I would count on nothing…

Robert Eder avatar

This is just during the shutdown. It continues on their Facebook page and on some mirror sites.

here is one: http://www.star.ucl.ac.uk/~apod/apod/ap251003.html

and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AstronomyPictureOfTheDay/?epa=SEARCH_BOX

Bogdan Borz avatar

Lapse means temporary. It does not receive funds during the shutdown. Once the shutdown is over, it will be back.

R. Jay GaBany avatar
Regretfully, this appears to be collateral damage to one of the most important international astronomy resources.  I hope it can recover quickly when the political deadlock is resolved.
Well Written
Backdoor Astronomy avatar

I must have the worst luck. Someone told me in here to submit my planet images to APOD and its like getting a new telescope the clouds come and so now I submitted my work to APOD and they shut down? I have some bad luck. Hope they come back though, its been years they have been around! Many years!

John Hayes avatar

I’m pretty sure that this is merely an interruption. It’s collateral damage from the disjunction that is sweeping through society in the US right now. Hopefully it’s a part of what David Brooks calls the process of rupture and repair that has been a part of our history; but, to emerge in a better place, it requires new leaders with new vision, which seems distant at best. Losing the APOD, even temporarily, amplifies the darkness of the dysfunction and emphasizes the loss of scientific vision and educational excellence that was once the envy of the world.

- John

Well Written Engaging
Gary Seven avatar
Bogdan Borz:
Lapse means temporary. It does not receive funds during the shutdown. Once the shutdown is over, it will be back.

I asked Grok how many government shutdowns there have been. The answer was about two dozen since 1976.

Another big yawn. I think the term for this is Kabuki Theater.
Arun H avatar
Gary Seven:
Another big yawn. I think the term for this is Kabuki Theater.


Yes, shutdowns have largely been made painless to the layman other than many federal workers forced to work on deferred pay which cannot be pleasant for them; I suspect more than a few have to take loans to cover the temporary loss of income. National parks etc. are mostly open, essential services such as government benefits, TSA, security and defense are almost completely unaffetced. These shutdowns end up being orchestrated for the purpose of scoring political points.
Ian McIntyre avatar

Tony Gondola · Oct 4, 2025, 12:32 AM

I would count on nothing…

I wish there was an “agree” button, because I definitely don’t “like” that I agree with this statement.

Well Written Respectful
John Hudson avatar

Hopefully its back up soon!

Georg N. Nyman avatar

Salvatore Iovene · Oct 3, 2025, 09:34 PM

That's very sad to hear, after so many years. I should reach out to hear if they'd work with AstroBin to mirror it on its infrastructure.

Oh yes, please, Salvatore - that is a wonderful idea!

Mau_Bard avatar

Robert Eder · Oct 4, 2025, 04:21 AM

This is just during the shutdown. It continues on their Facebook page and on some mirror sites.

here is one: http://www.star.ucl.ac.uk/~apod/apod/ap251003.html

and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AstronomyPictureOfTheDay/?epa=SEARCH_BOX

Dear Friends, it seems that, as pointed out by Robert Eder above, the APOD team is continuing to publish, for instance on the shadow site linked by Robert.

As I write (7 October) I can see there images dated 5, 6, and 7 October.

A big “thanks!” to Robert.

Aleix Roig avatar

Robert and their team have been doing a great work all these years and we hope they can recover soon from this unfortunate event.

APOD’s has not been interrupted (although the website is down) and we can see the daily image, among others, at their social networks such as Instagram @astronomypicturesdaily :

https://www.instagram.com/astronomypicturesdaily?igsh=MTJkemFwb2JhMjFuNg==

That said, big thanks to Robert and the whole APOD team that these days are struggling to keep the activity up and running. Their page is a great inspiration for general public and also specilists. Never give up team! And thanks again!!

Greetings from Spain,

Aleix

R. Jay GaBany avatar
The NASA APOD site is back online!

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
John Hayes avatar

R. Jay GaBany · Nov 13, 2025, 05:17 PM

The NASA APOD site is back online!

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

Fantastic! And I love the “come back” image of M42. It looks just like the one that I submitted (that didn’t go anywhere): https://app.astrobin.com/u/jhayes_tucson?i=srzsit#gallery

John

Kevin Morefield avatar

R. Jay GaBany · Nov 13, 2025, 05:17 PM

The NASA APOD site is back online!

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

Congrats Jay!

R. Jay GaBany avatar
Thanks a lot, Kevin!!!