NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day highlighted a striking image of a deep red Sun seen through wildfire smoke over the Okanagan region of British Columbia. The photo was taken on July 22, 2026, and shows how heavy haze can dramatically change the Sun’s appearance.
According to the APOD description, smoke drifting from wildfires in the Pacific Northwest filtered the sunlight enough to make the Sun look more like a star in an alien sky than the one usually seen from Earth. The unusual color created a scene that, at first glance, could resemble a view from an exoplanet orbiting a red dwarf.
The image underscores how wildfire smoke can affect visibility and alter the color of the sky and Sun. When enough particles build up in the atmosphere, they scatter and block parts of sunlight, sometimes leaving the solar disk looking orange or red.
The featured APOD entry credits the image to Debra Ceravolo, with accompanying text by Cecilia Chirenti. Beyond its visual impact, the photo connects a real wildfire-driven atmospheric event in western Canada with the kind of otherworldly imagery often associated with astronomy.
