Penguin Awareness Day Jan. 20, 2026

Penguins thrive in some of Earth"s coldest waters. Today"s image shows a gentoo penguin beneath a vault of shimmering blue ice, its sharp silhouette etched against the frozen world around it. Penguin Awareness Day, observed on January 20, shines a spotlight on the birds that bring life, noise and personality to Earth"s iciest coastlines.

© Paul Souders/DanitaDelimont.com/Alamy

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Today in History

Come on, guys, this way!
Jan. 20, 2024Macaroni penguins, Drake Passage, Chile

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Nov. 28, 2024Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park, British Columbia
Feb. 9, 2026Amur leopard cat, Russia
Aug 26, 2026Auroras over Kirkjufell, Iceland
Sep. 4, 2023Camels in the desert, United Arab Emirates
Staying in the loop
Nov. 10, 2025Badlands National Park, South Dakota, United States
Aug 3, 2026Colourful boats in Marsaxlokk Harbour, Malta
Holiday hues
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Jul. 27, 2024Vineyards above the Moselle River, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
Jan. 16, 2024Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Trusty water-shifters
Heavenly hot springs
Nov. 26, 2025World Olive Tree Day
Nov. 6, 2023Lago Pehoé, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
Dec. 6, 2024Finnish Independence Day
Beautiful from all angles
Jan. 26, 2024Northern hawk-owl
Jan. 12, 2025Crescent-tail bigeye fish, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
May 9, 2024Misool, Raja Ampat Islands, Indonesia
A grand view
Dec. 23, 2023Festivus
Eyes on the skies
Jan. 9, 2024Rio Grande, Albuquerque
Oct. 18, 2024Jasper Dark Sky Festival, Alberta
Jan. 10, 2026The Matterhorn reflected in Lake Stellisee at sunrise, Zermatt, Switzerland
Mar. 14, 2025Celebrating Pi Day
King of the ocean
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