The “Blue Marble,” the first complete photograph of Earth taken from space, continues to capture the world’s attention, now 50 years after its historic debut.
Captured on December 7, 1972, during the Apollo 17 mission, this image profoundly altered humanity’s perspective on our planet.
As astronaut Harrison Schmitt flew towards the Moon, he remarked on Earth’s fragile beauty, saying, “if there ever was a fragile-appearing piece of blue in space, it’s the Earth right now.”
The crew Commander Eugene Cernan, Command Module Pilot Ronald Evans, and Lunar Module Pilot Harrison Schmitt—watched their home recede into the distance, marveling at the sight of Earth.
Cernan noted the artistic quality of the clouds, providing a glimpse of Earth’s beauty and vulnerability. Over the decades, however, humanity has reshaped the planet through urbanization, deforestation, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions, leading to significant environmental changes.
The original Blue Marble photograph was taken using a specially modified Hasselblad camera, which the crew passed around to capture the stunning views. Jennifer Levasseur, curator at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, highlighted the meticulous planning involved, as the crew aimed to capture a fully illuminated Earth.
On the 50th anniversary, a new “Blue Marble” image was taken by NASA’s satellite, revealing stark changes to the planet’s surface. Notable among these is the significant reduction of the Antarctic ice sheet, a clear indicator of climate change.
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The Sahara Desert has expanded, and tree cover in the Sahel region has declined, showcasing the effects of deforestation and shifting ecosystems.
NASA’s Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera, which has been capturing images of the sunlit side of Earth since 2015, provided these new insights. The satellite, located a million miles from Earth, has advanced technology that allows for higher quality images.
As we reflect on the changes over the past half-century, the Blue Marble remains a powerful symbol of our planet’s beauty and the urgent need for environmental stewardship.
