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Witness History: Earth: A pale blue dot in the universe

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01/01/2024 GMT

Earth: A pale blue dot in the universe

BBC World Service - Witness History, Earth: A pale blue dot in the universe

In 1990, a space probe's photograph of Earth captured the enormity of space

In 1990, Nasa's Voyager space probe captured a photograph of Earth from billions of miles away. Caught in a sun beam, it is a tiny speck in the vast universe.

In February 1990, Nasa space probe Voyager took a famous photo of Earth as it left the Solar System.

Seen from six billion kilometres away, our planet appears as a mere dot lit up by the sun, giving a sense of humanity's small place in the universe.

In 2020, Darryl Morris spoke to Nasa planetary scientist Candice Hansen, who worked on the Voyager programme. A Made in Manchester production for BBC World Service.

(Photo: Earth - a pale blue dot. Credit: Nasa/JPL-Caltech)

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