The Curiosity Rover Snapped Its First Picture of Earth and Safely Crossed Into the Dingo Gap

The Curiosity rover is a long way from home, boys and girls, and this shot of what the Earth looks like from where it is on Mars is a reminder of just how far that is. Across the cold, empty reaches of space, the rover has taken a picture of the home of all seven billion humans, and it looks like just a tiny speck.

Curiosity tweeted this picture last night just before it let everyone know that it had crossed into the Dingo Gap safely. Its wheels have been taking a beating up there on the harsh red planet, and NASA decided to take it over a sand dune and into the much smoother and less treacherous Dingo Gap.

Look Back in Wonder… My 1st picture of Earth from the surface of Mars. Info: http://t.co/JMMMmiAEX0 pic.twitter.com/xWOJdMqMVq

— Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) February 6, 2014

I’m over the moon that I’m over the dune! I successfully crossed the “Dingo Gap” sand dune on Mars. pic.twitter.com/KEGLK79HU6 — Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) February 7, 2014

Here’s an enhanced view from NASA of what the Earth and the moon look like from Curiosity’s lonely, cold vantage point on Mars:

So, yeah, still just tiny specks. Poor, lonely rover.

I took a picture of the Earth last week and then I put “You are here” on it and laughed for an hour. Then I cried. http://t.co/QgkUqj4Lda

— SarcasticRover (@SarcasticRover) February 6, 2014

Don’t worry, buddy! We want to come visit you some day; I promise. Hang in there for science.

(via Universe Today, images via NASA)

Meanwhile in related links

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