The Day The Earth Smiled Print

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Cassini 's portrait of Earth on July 19, 2013

The world watched on July 19, 2013, as NASA’s Cassini spacecraft snaps Earth's image from the far side of Saturn. With the brilliant light of the Sun blocked by Saturn itself, the ringed planet loomed large in the foreground, with Earth appearing as a very distant "Pale Blue Dot."

“It was a day for all the world to celebrate,” said Cassini imaging team leader Carolyn Porco of the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colorado, who first recognized the unique opportunity to create this new view of Earth.

AWB was proud to coordinate worldwide astronomy events in celebration of The Day The Earth Smiled (TDTES), in cooperation with its founder, Carolyn Porco.

Read about how AWB members and others participated:

Tour of Saturn from Earth, Earth from Saturn (Cassini) with Southern Stars



This video tour from Earth to Saturn and back was created by Southern Stars in their SkySafari app. During the tour of Saturn the Cassini spacecraft is seen in its actual location, and its view of Earth is seen at the moment it will snap its photograph of Earth. All other times and orientations are before or after the photograph is taken. The Earth location in the video is northern California, USA.



Read more about The Day the Earth Smiled.

Read Carolyn Porco's Captain's Log announcing this historic event.

Learn more about the Cassini Solstice Mission and find educational resources.

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