The Blue Marble: A Brief History 

In 1972, the crew of Apollo 17 took a photograph of the Earth that would go on to become one of the most iconic images of our planet.

That image, known as "The Blue Marble," has been reprinted in magazines and newspapers, used in advertising campaigns, and even featured on postage stamps.

But where did this image come from?

Let's take a look at the history of the Blue Marble and how it came to be such an important part of our cultural heritage. 

The Original Blue Marble

The Blue Marble is an image of the Earth taken from space by the crew of Apollo 17 on December 7, 1972.

The photo shows the Earth against the blackness of space, with Africa and Europe clearly visible.

The original photo was taken on a Hasselblad camera using color film, and it quickly became popular both for its scientific value and its aesthetic beauty. 

Blue Marble 2012

In 2012, NASA released an updated version of the Blue Marble photo, which showed the entire Earth in high detail.

This updated photo was taken by composite satellite images and was assembled from various images taken over a period of time.

The new photo showed not only landmasses but also clouds, oceans, and even ice caps. 

Blue Marble 2022

NASA released a new Blue Marble photograph in February 2022.

This photo was taken by the U.S. Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR).

The angle of the photo was recreated, based on the original image that was taken nearly 50 years ago by the Apollo 17 crew.

Black Marble

The Blue Marble is one of the most famous images of our planet.

It has been used to show how beautiful and important Earth is.

The next time you see this image, take a moment to think about all the things it represents.

The Blue Marble is an iconic image of our planet.

It has been used to raise awareness about environmental issues, inspire exploration and discovery, and remind us all of our place in the universe.

When you see this image next, take a moment to appreciate everything it stands for.

We've got the perfect conversation starters right here.
 
Check out our Blue Marble merchandise and start up a chat with anyone, whether you know them or not.
It'll be fun, we promise.