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On Feb. 14, 1990, NASA controllers instructed the Voyager 1 spacecraft to turn around and take one last look at its home planet as it pushed on to the fringe of our solar system. Look closely at the resulting image. That tiny pinpoint of light in the center-right is us – you, me, and everyone else that calls Earth home.
The request came from the late, great astronomer Carl Sagan, one of the world's greatest advocates for advancing the general public's appreciation and understanding of science. He passed away 14 years ago today after a two-year battle with bone-marrow disease.
The image, called "A Pale Blue Dot," was made when Voyager 1 was about 4 billion miles away. It inspired Sagan's 1994 book "Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space." An excerpt puts the image's significance into context:
"It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. It underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the only home we've ever known, the pale blue dot."
We leave you to reflect on Sagan's thoughts as we head into the final days of our Cosmic Log Space Advent Calendar. For more views of Earth from space, check out these past offerings. We've also included links to other online Advent calendars that have been serving up space images daily since the beginning of the month:
- The Cosmic Log Space Advent Calendar so far
- Door 1 for Dec. 1: Shuttle in spotlight
- Door 2 for Dec. 2: 'Alien' lake seen from space
- Door 3 for Dec. 3: Egypt's river of light
- Door 4 for Dec. 4: Tallest building reaches for the sky
- Door 5 for Dec. 5: Russia's dazzling delta
- Door 6 for Dec. 6: Space skipper vs. the world
- Door 7 for Dec. 7: Pearl Harbor from the heavens
- Door 8 for Dec. 8: Listening for E.T.
- Door 9 for Dec. 9: Blast from the past
- Door 10 for Dec. 10: Volcano caught in the act
- Door 11 for Dec. 11: Chronicling climate change
- Door 12 for Dec. 12: Happy St. Lucy's Day
- Door 13 for Dec. 13: Viva Las Vegas
- Door 14 for Dec. 14: Don't wake the volcanoes
- Door 15 for Dec. 15: Stairways to heaven
- Door 16 for Dec. 16: White Christmas in the Midwest
- Door 17 for Dec. 17: Tracks in the sky
- Door 18 for Dec. 18: Amelia Earhart's final resting place?
- Door 19 for Dec. 19: Lunar eclipse as seen from space
- The Big Picture at Boston.com: Hubble Advent calendar
- Planetary Society: Solar system Advent calendar
- Zooniverse Advent calendar
Connect with the Cosmic Log community by hitting the "like" button on the Cosmic Log Facebook page or following msnbc.com's science editor, Alan Boyle, on Twitter (@b0yle).
Leave a Comment:
For all of our accomplishments, our prizes, our developments, we have produced many a wonder. For all of our conceit, our arrogance, our ego, we have produced much destruct. We see this would as both big and small, it is the largest object we personally know, and yet its is but a speck compared to the rest of this universe. Its is quite humbling to think that, for all that we have done in the short time we have been on this planet, it pales compared to that in which we live.
Sagan sure had a way to humble the arrogant didn't he? What a parting shot!
Amazing!...In the end we are but a mere dandruff flake floating across the cosmos...................................................................................................................................................................
A dandelion seed , but your point still remains valid .
Science is awesome!!
The most beautiful but so fragile planet. If all the people on this planet can get along and keep it beautiful. Now that's my Christmas wish for life!
So beautiful but so fragile! Wish that all people on this planet can get along and keep it beautiful, now that's heaven on earth!
It's like the rays of heaven are shining on us and earth !
No, just no.
..but anyway, we have the long journey that we really can't deal with.
My interest in astronomy began when I was just nine years old, and I remember being so excited, and now at sixty-three my excitment at seeing this picture caused me to become light headed and I had a feeling in the pit of my stomach that was like when I rode a roller coaster for the first time.
Yes I agree with you Louisiana Lady, science is awesome!!
Kind of puts things in persepctive doesn't it :)...we are NOT the center of our universe.
If we consider that the universe is infinite, any point, including Earth, can be the center of the universe. ;)
.....ah!....but we're finding (possibly) that the universe (this one) is finite.....as well as an infinite number of other universes, perhaps as close as the living room we're seated in!
Carl Sagan..... Had vision that was 20/20, while others walked in darkness due to their blindness.
R.I.P. Sagan..... See ya on another side.
Lynn3765........ I don't know about that theory. My ex-wife always thought the universe revolved around her butt....
Perhaps a Universe is as a Galaxy, is as a Solar System, is as a Planet and its Moon, is as the Nucleus of an Atom is surrounded by Electrons..............Maybe we're looking at infinity the wrong way? The comprehension of our existence and our place will come to us some day. With men and women like Carl Sagan, I am assured of it.
I often look at the headlines in our news groups and wonder If people could, or would ever set aside their differences for the greater good of our species. I think on how we would judge our own race, if we were to play the part of the external observer. To look down upon this "Pale Blue Dot" and wonder why it is that our species is capable of such brutality and maliciousness over such petty things as Race, Religion, and material things. How barbaric we must seem, and yet, we have a great propensity for good. An ability to bring out the best in ourselves for a common goal. Our generosity can be boundless.
How is it that a species has such a diversity and range of abilities but fails to realize the part we play in the grand scheme of our own universe is so paltry and small. How we can not seem to realize how great a gift we have been given with this planet, yet fight over the right to squander its natural resources. I hope with every fiber of my being that our species evolves enough to avoid their own self inflicted destruction. I know that it will not happen in my lifetime, but i still hold out hope that maybe my children's children might grow up in a world that looks back on this time and wonders what it must have been like to live in such a way. Here is hopping that one day, the world will realize that we are all in this journey together, and will work together to make it a future worthy of remembrance.
Finally, the view of ourselves we desperately needed to see. As seemingly important as many individuals place themselves, it is this singular photo that puts everything into perspective. Thanks Carl Sagan !
I started reading "Pale Blue Dot" a couple of weeks ago.. great book as always from Carl Sagan. He had a huge influence on my love for science.. his "Cosmos" series still holds up incredibly well today. His explanations of scientific matters are so well explained. A couple of my favorite quotes from "Cosmos"..
"If you were to right out a Googleplex number of zeroes on paper, the paper could not be stuffed into the known universe"!
"Evolution is a fact, not a theory, it really happened".
That's a "googolplex", wouldn't want to send the zeroes to the wrong company now, would you?
Carl Sagan..... Had vision that was 20/20, while others walked in darkness due to their blindness.
R.I.P. Sagan..... See ya on another side.
As I look at this picture of the tiny blue earth seemingly all alone in space I am listening to medieval Christmas music being broadcast by our local classical music station.
It makes me sad to think that pale blue dot is home to so much misery, hate and intolerance.
Another year has gone by and another Christmas has come and we are no closer to achieving any of the ideals we all claim to live by. Grandma still gets run over by that reindeer and mommy still gets caught kissing Santa Clause as merry lights dance across the world to celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace.
For two thousand years we have held this birthday party in one form or another and still we do not honor his teachings by living by them.
No my friends I am not a religious fanatic, I'm not even a Christian. I'm what you might call a "Secular Humanist". But I truly appreciate the teaching of the Rabbi from Nazareth and I think the world would be a better place if we took that message to heart and tried to live it everyday. Divine or not, the message is the salvation of humanity, if we would only listen. Christian, Muslim, Jew, Hindu or "Pastafarrian"the message of tolerance, forgiveness and generosity is worth studying and practicing.
Thanks to Carl Sagan for his vision and thanks to you Alan and Cosmic Log for sharing it with us on this beautiful Winter Solstice.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hannuka, Joyous Kwanza or simply have a Wonderful Winter Solstice to you all.
I miss Carl. We lost a true seeker when we lost him.
And so this is Christmas... and what have we done?
It just shows how small we really are!! Some people have no idea of Earths majestic beauty, and how we are all connected to this piece of rock floating through the cosmos. If everyone really knew the importance of life and how fragile we really are, then humanity would be far better off. Understanding our surrounding puts us much closer to understanding ourselves..
When these gifted, brilliant, talented people die a little piece of me goes with them. I think about Carl Sagan often and would have LOVED to hear his opinion on the large questions of the day including global warming. he is one of the king of scientists. I also miss Stephen Jay Gould ...these people are TRULY irreplaceable as I suppose was Galileo of his day. Still we know SO much more in science and especially space, evolution and archeology and all of these extraordinary scientists would contribute SO much. It shakes my world if even these people are plucked before their time or at ANY time by the hands of death which we all in the end must succumb.
I never forget people like Judah Folkman who worked on angiogenises of cancer treatment or the historian David Halberstam and Ambassador Holbrooke..ALL these people were SO valuable to the extension of human knowledge and the betterment of life and the world is SO diminished by their loss. I never forget them though never.
WHATEVER! Dudes when are you gonna get it through your thick skulls, the earth is flat!!
Nice try "Scott" but we know that's really you, Michelle Bachmann.
I think of Carl often , i carry his words with me always.
Awsome. I can't think of anything else to say. Just awsome
I saw this picture and all I could say was "Wow!" The last month has been a great one for cosmic phenomenon. It was clear skies enough for me to watch to Geminid meteors last week and the Lunar Eclipse this week. On top of that we have the great folks at MSN giving us the Space holiday calander featuring some spectacular views of our home planet, some from orbit in extremely hi-res, and some like this one that truly make you appreciate what our home is when considered against the background of everything else in the solar system, the galaxy, and the universe. To everyone, I wish for you the best of the season and happines in the new year.
"Have a Merry Christmas, a Happy Haunakah, a Crazy Kwanzaa, a Tip Top Tet, and a solemn and dignified Ramadan." - Krusy the Clown
Thank you Alan, for reposting that picture. When I looked at it, I thought of that day in the future when someone from Earth will look out a window with a smile and see that same view. Let's hope that day is not that far off.