Earth from Afar

Darkened by the Moon’s Shadow
Image

Darkened by the Moon’s Shadow

As the Moon crossed between the Sun and Earth during the 2023 annular eclipse, its shadow darkened skies across the United States.

Published Oct 17, 2023

Image of the Day Atmosphere Land

On This Day in 2015: An EPIC New View of Earth
Image

On This Day in 2015: An EPIC New View of Earth

From one million miles away, the DSCOVR satellite returned its first view of the entire sunlit side of Earth.

Published Jul 6, 2023

Image of the Day Atmosphere

Small Gray Dots
Image

Small Gray Dots

A spacecraft designed to explore asteroids near Jupiter also looked back at Earth, acquiring distant views of our Moon and home planet.

Published Jan 1, 2023

Image of the Day Remote Sensing

Orion Views Earth from Afar
Image

Orion Views Earth from Afar

Fifty years after Apollo 17 astronauts photographed the iconic “blue marble” image, cameras in space have again captured distant views of our home planet.

Published Dec 7, 2022

Image of the Day Life

Looking Around the Neighborhood
Image

Looking Around the Neighborhood

Two spacecraft designed to study the Sun also got some recent peeks at Earth and other planets.

Published Jan 29, 2021

Image of the Day Remote Sensing

A GOLDen Look at the Ionosphere
Image

A GOLDen Look at the Ionosphere

Satellites are shedding new light on the invisible processes and rhythms at play at the intersection between Earth and space.

Published Dec 26, 2019

Image of the Day Atmosphere Remote Sensing

An Eagle Takes Off for Home
Image

An Eagle Takes Off for Home

When the Apollo 11 astronauts left the surface of the Moon on July 21, 1969, they brought home samples of solar wind particles, lunar rocks and dirt, and a big helping of perspective.

Published Jul 20, 2019

Image of the Day Human Presence

All of You on the Good Earth
Image

All of You on the Good Earth

These iconic photos are not new, but their message never gets old.

Published Dec 24, 2018

Image of the Day Life Human Presence

Looking Back Across a Sea of Black
Image

Looking Back Across a Sea of Black

A spacecraft looked homeward while making its way to the asteroid Bennu.

Published Nov 22, 2018

Image of the Day Remote Sensing

A Cubic View of Earth
Image

A Cubic View of Earth

The MarCO-B CubeSat snapped its first photo on May 9, 2018, and caught a glance of home.

Published May 28, 2018

Image of the Day Remote Sensing

Right Here, Right Now
Image

Right Here, Right Now

OSIRIS-REx took a look back at home while making its way toward the asteroid Bennu.

Published Dec 31, 2017

Image of the Day Remote Sensing

Cassini’s Final View of Home
Image

Cassini’s Final View of Home

As the spacecraft headed into its last days, it sent back this image of Earth framed by Saturn’s rings.

Published Apr 29, 2017

Image of the Day Remote Sensing

The Solar Ring of Fire
Image

The Solar Ring of Fire

Earth-observing satellites follow the shadow of an annular eclipse.

Published Mar 2, 2017

Image of the Day Remote Sensing

Earth and Moon from Mars
Image

Earth and Moon from Mars

A powerful telescope on a satellite orbiting Mars turned its gaze back on Earth.

Published Jan 21, 2017

Image of the Day Life

An EPIC Eclipse
Image

An EPIC Eclipse

The DSCOVR satellite captured the shadow of the Moon marching across Earth’s sunlit face.

Published Mar 11, 2016

Image of the Day Unique Imagery Remote Sensing

Earthrise Reimagined
Image

Earthrise Reimagined

Cameras on a lunar orbiter and some clever image processing techniques led to a new take on a historic image of the Earth and Moon.

Published Dec 25, 2015

Image of the Day Atmosphere

Keeping on the Sunny Side of Earth
Image

Keeping on the Sunny Side of Earth

Storms and a lunar eclipse are a few of the phenomena visible in animations of Earth’s full disk.

Published Dec 16, 2015

Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Water

The Dark Side and the Bright Side
Image

The Dark Side and the Bright Side

The Deep Space Climate Observatory captured a unique view of the Moon as it passed between the spacecraft and Earth. The Artemis mission will soon take us back for closeups.

Published Aug 6, 2015

Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Water

An EPIC New View of Earth
Image

An EPIC New View of Earth

From one million miles away, the DSCOVR satellite returned its first view of the entire sunlit side of Earth.

Published Jul 21, 2015

Image of the Day Atmosphere Water

Sun-Earth Selfie
Image

Sun-Earth Selfie

The STEREO A spacecraft looked back from the far side of the Sun to capture an image of Earth and Mercury.

Published Feb 10, 2015

Image of the Day Remote Sensing

Two for One
Image

Two for One

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter captured this remarkable shot of Earth—with Mars in the distance.

Published Oct 11, 2014

Image of the Day Atmosphere

Looking Back from Apollo 11
Image

Looking Back from Apollo 11

Transcripts from the flight to the Moon capture some of the wonder and novelty of looking back at Earth.

Published Jul 21, 2014

Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Water Human Presence

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Earth
Image

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Earth

The Curiosity rover on Mars looked up and saw home on the horizon.

Published Mar 9, 2014

Image of the Day Remote Sensing

Getting a Little Boost from Home
Image

Getting a Little Boost from Home

In October 2013, NASA’s Juno spacecraft flew past the Earth to steal some energy for a ride to Jupiter. Along the way, it also stole some glimpses of home.

Published Dec 29, 2013

Image of the Day Remote Sensing

Earthrise Revisited
Image

Earthrise Revisited

You know the photo, but do you know the story behind it? A new video explains the circumstances that gave rise to the famous Apollo “Earthrise” photo while recreating the experience with modern data.

Published Dec 24, 2013

Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Water Snow and Ice Remote Sensing

Views of a Distant Earth
Image

Views of a Distant Earth

On July 19, 2013, NASA spacecraft got not one but two rare and unique views of Earth from opposite ends of the solar system.

Published Jul 24, 2013

Image of the Day Remote Sensing

A Different View of Home
Image

A Different View of Home

NASA’s STEREO-B spacecraft observed Comet PanSTARRS and Earth from the far side of the Sun in March 2013.

Published Mar 31, 2013

Image of the Day Heat Remote Sensing

A Voyager Far From Home
Image

A Voyager Far From Home

After 35 years, the Voyager 1 space probe is farther from Earth than any manmade object has ever flown.

Published Sep 5, 2012

Image of the Day Atmosphere

Students Look Homeward from the Moon
Image

Students Look Homeward from the Moon

Middle school students took this picture of our planet from the far side of the Moon in mid-March 2012.

Published Apr 8, 2012

Image of the Day Remote Sensing

What did John Glenn see?
Image

What did John Glenn see?

Fifty years ago today, the first American to orbit the planet took this photo of home.

Published Feb 21, 2012

Image of the Day Human Presence Remote Sensing