Psyche's Cosmic Portrait: Earth and Moon Captured from Deep Space

In a breathtaking display of its capabilities, NASA's Psyche spacecraft has recently captured stunning images of our home planet, Earth, and its celestial companion, the Moon. These remarkable photographs were taken from an incredible distance of approximately 290 million kilometers (about 180 million miles) away.

Calibrating for the Cosmos

The images were acquired in July 2025 as part of the calibration process for Psyche's imager instrument. Scientists carefully select targets for such tests that shine with reflected sunlight, mirroring the very nature of the asteroid Psyche itself, which the mission is destined to explore.

This act of imaging our own solar system from such a vast distance is a poignant reminder of our place in the universe. The perspective offered by Psyche's camera evokes the profound sentiment captured in the iconic 'Pale Blue Dot' photograph, reminding us of the fragility and beauty of our planet.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU