From a Million Miles Away, NASA Camera Shows Moon Crossing Face of Earth (2015)

NASA's Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) aboard the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) satellite captured images of the moon crossing in front of the sunlit side of Earth. This event occurred on July 16, showcasing the fully illuminated far side of the moon, which is not visible from Earth. The DSCOVR satellite, located one million miles from Earth, primarily monitors solar wind for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The images were taken between 3:50 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. EDT, depicting the moon's movement over the Pacific Ocean.

The far side of the moon, first photographed by the Soviet Luna 3 in 1959, lacks the large basaltic plains found on the side facing Earth. The captured images reveal features such as Mare Moscoviense and Tsiolkovskiy crater. Adam Szabo, the project scientist for DSCOVR, noted the brightness of Earth compared to the moon, emphasizing the planet's brilliance in the dark expanse of space.

Once EPIC begins regular observations, it will provide daily color images of Earth, which will be available to the public 12 to 36 hours after capture. The DSCOVR mission is a collaboration between NASA, NOAA, and the U.S. Air Force, aimed at enhancing real-time solar wind monitoring critical for space weather forecasting. For further details, NASA will maintain a dedicated website for the images and mission updates.