NASA has given the world a breathtaking view of our planet, showing how stunning Earth looks from space, both in the past and today.
In an X post, the space agency shared images captured by the 1972 Apollo 17 crew and the 2026 Artemis II astronauts, highlighting a perspective that never fails to amaze.
The first image shows Earth as seen during Apollo 17, while the second was captured just yesterday by the Artemis II crew, showing our planet’s timeless beauty from space.
“We’ve come so far in the last 54 years, but one thing hasn’t changed: Our home looks gorgeous from space! The left view is from the Apollo 17 crew in 1972, and the right was captured yesterday by the Artemis II crew,” the post reads.
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Check out the post here:
Apollo 17’s iconic Earth view:
Apollo 17, the sixth and final Apollo mission to land people on the Moon, offered astronauts a unique vantage point of Earth.
Compared to previous Apollo missions, the crew travelled the greatest distance using the Lunar Roving Vehicle and returned the largest collection of rock and soil samples.
Amid their busy lunar exploration, they captured unforgettable images of our home planet, showing Earth as a fragile, glowing jewel against the dark expanse of space.
More than fifty years later, NASA’s long-awaited Artemis II mission has sent four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon.
While the mission focuses on testing the Orion spacecraft and preparing for future lunar landings, the astronauts are also capturing live views of Earth.
The side-by-side comparison of the Apollo 17 and Artemis II images is striking. The 1972 photograph shows Earth in a way that has inspired generations, while the 2026 view captures the same planet in sharp, modern detail.
Despite more than five decades between the missions, one thing remains clear: Earth looks as beautiful and fragile from space as ever.
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Here’s how people reacted to the post:
The post quickly captured attention online, with people sharing awe and excitement over the striking Earth images.
One of the users commented, “Why does the one from 72 look better?”
A second user commented, “The old Earth image looks sharper, while this new image looks dull. Camera quality or climate change?”
A third user commented, “The view changed, but the mission stayed the same.”
“NASA dropping the ultimate throwback! Earth still looks insane from space 54 years later,” another user commented.
Artemis II shares first images:
On April 3, 2026, NASA also shared the Artemis II crew’s first images from space, giving viewers a real-time glimpse of Earth and life aboard the Orion capsule.
