APOD: 2026 July 30 – Red Sun trough Wildfire Smoke

NASA has shared a striking photograph of the Sun appearing vivid red through wildfire smoke in British Columbia's Okanagan region. Smoke particles from Pacific Northwest fires acted as a natural solar filter, scattering blue light and rendering the Sun dramatically dimmer and redder than normal. The image captures multiple sunspots, including a large, rapidly evolving region labeled A R forty-four ninety-three. While the reddening is temporary, NASA notes that the Sun will actually turn red in roughly six billion years as it enters its red giant phase.

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