"Welcome to NASA's astronomy picture of the day for July 9, 2026, titled The Red Glow of the Cosmic Bat Nebula. This cosmic bat wished you a happy summer ween. This mid-year celebration of Halloween transcended hemispheres, even though summer in the Northern Hemisphere was winter in the south. Contrary to its eerie aura, the Cosmic Bat Nebula LDN 43, not to be confused with the Bat Nebula, NGC 6995, was a vibrant birthplace for stars. A bit of young starlight peeked through the dense clouds of gas and dust that made up the cosmic bat's 12-light-year wingspan. The ultraviolet light from the young stars energized the nebula's hydrogen gas, causing it to glow an ominous red. The jet of glowing hydrogen gas emerging from the bat's head hinted at the star formation hidden within."