At first glance, it’s a picture of Earth. Not much different from all those pictures of Earth you’ve seen over the years.
That is, until you realize that most of the pictures of Earth you’ve seen over the years have been the same photograph — the “Blue Marble” taken by Apollo 17 astronauts in 1972, more than four decades ago.
There are not many photographs showing a fully illuminated Earth, because the camera has to be between the Earth and sun, while far enough away to capture the whole planet. Weather satellites in geosynchronous orbit can get a similar view, but not quite the entire hemisphere. Also, they are over a single location and the planet is partly in shadow most of the time.
Now, the Deep Space Climate Observatory, or Dscovr for short, will be taking such photographs on a regular basis, always over the dayside of Earth. The first was released on Monday.
via New York Times
