Voyager I was launched on September 5, 1977, and by February, 1990, had reached a vantage point at the edge of our solar system’s planets.  On February 14, 1990, NASA ordered Voyager to turn around and take images of the planets from far out in space.  This resulted in what is known as our Family Portrait.

NASA/JPL

One image, called “pale blue dot”, became famous as the title of Carl Sagan’s book.  The “pale blue dot” is, of course, Earth.

NASA/JPL

As Carl Sagan says, “all of human history has happened on that tiny pixel, which is our only home.”

This image:

Image:  Shereth, 12 June 2008, All rights reserved

shows Voyager’s path and where it was in space when the images were made.  Voyager was 3,762,136,324.748 miles from Earth.  Mars and Mercury couldn’t be imaged because of their position in relation to the sun.

We all know about the “pale blue dot”, of course.  But when was the last time you really looked at our tiny, beautiful home as it appears from space?

NASA/JPL