NASA, Earth from Mars

Here’s a unique landscape photograph, and an historic first: planet Earth seen from the surface of Mars. That ridge at the bottom of the picture is on Mars, but where is Earth? You might be able to see a tiny white speck near the top left corner – that’s us! But in case you think you’re looking at dust on your computer screen, click on the image for a larger view, or go to NASA’s website.

It seems to be a realistic representation because NASA says that “a human observer with normal vision, if standing on Mars, could easily see Earth and the moon as two distinct, bright ‘evening stars.'” The Earth was 99 million miles away (160 million kilometres).

The photograph has an appealing minimal quality, a solemn nocturne, which suits the subject – seeing our world as an insignificant speck of dust.

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