Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day we feature a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

December 19, 1995
See Explanation. Clicking on the picture will download the highest resolution version available.
Albert Einstein: 1879 - 1955

Explanation: Albert Einstein is considered by many the greatest astrophysicist. He is pictured here in the Swiss Patent Office where he did much of his great work. Einstein's many visionary scientific contributions include the equivalence of mass and energy (E=mc^2), how the maximum speed limit of light affects measurements of time and space (special relativity), and a more accurate theory of gravity based on simple geometric concepts (general relativity). One reason Einstein was awarded the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics was to make the prize more prestigious.

Tomorrow's picture: A Galaxy Gravitational Lens

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Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (GMU) & Jerry Bonnell (USRA).
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