The tiny pixel of light at the center of this image is Earth. Taken in February 1990 by Voyager 1 nearly 4 billion miles from our home, this first portrait of the Solar System represents the beautiful and precious nature of Earth.
The red light band crossing through the image is a result of the photo being taken close to the Sun. This image inspired the famous astronomer Carl Sagan (1934-1996) to write his 1994 book, “Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space.”
Image credit: NASA/JPL