NASA Compares Earth Photos Taken 50 Years Apart by Apollo 17 and Artemis II
NASA has unveiled two images of Earth taken 50 years apart from two significant missions: Apollo 17 in 1972 and Artemis II in 2026. The first photo, dubbed 'The Blue Marble,' was taken by astronaut Harrison H. Schmitt on December 7, 1972, using a modified Hasselblad 500 EL camera. It captures the sunlit side of Earth, showcasing regions from the Mediterranean to Antarctica, including Africa's coastline, the Arabian Peninsula, Madagascar, and parts of Asia. The second image, 'Hello, World,' was shot on April 2, 2026, by Commander Reid Wiseman aboard the Orion spacecraft during Artemis II. It depicts the night side of Earth, lit by moonlight, with the South Pole at the top and auroras visible at both poles. NASA emphasized the stark contrast in brightness, calling it 'literally night and day.' The Artemis II crew successfully splashed down after their journey to the moon's far side, achieving a historic milestone.
Key facts
- NASA shared two images of Earth taken 50 years apart by Apollo 17 (1972) and Artemis II (2026).
- The 1972 image, 'The Blue Marble,' was captured by Harrison H. Schmitt on December 7, 1972.
- The 2026 image, 'Hello, World,' was captured by Reid Wiseman on April 2, 2026.
- The Apollo 17 image was taken with a modified Hasselblad 500 EL camera.
- The Artemis II image was taken with a DSLR using long-exposure settings.
- The Artemis II image shows Earth's night side, while the Apollo 17 image shows the day side.
- The Artemis II image reveals auroras at both poles and zodiacal light.
- NASA described the difference as 'literally night and day.'
Entities
Artists
- Harrison H. Schmitt
- Reid Wiseman
Institutions
- NASA
- Artemis II
- Apollo 17
Locations
- Earth
- Moon
- Mediterranean
- Antarctica
- Africa
- Arabian Peninsula
- Madagascar
- Asia
- South Pole
- North Pole