PARTIAL LUNAR ECLIPSE ON JULY 16th

PARTIAL LUNAR ECLIPSE

On July 16th, the full Moon will pass through the shadow of Earth, off center, producing a partial lunar eclipse. This movie created by space artist Larry Koehn shows how 65% of the lunar disk will fall into darkness during the 3 hour eclipse:

July 16, 2019 Partial Lunar Eclipse – Eastern Hemisphere from LarryKoehn on Vimeo.

Best seen from Africa, the eclipse is maximum at 21:32 UT. Observers in Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia will also witness at least part of the eclipse. North Americans will see none of it–only a normal bright full Moon. Check NASA’s visibility map to find out if you are in the eclipse zone. Wishing you clear skies.

 

METEORS FROM HALLEY’S COMET

Our Planet Earth is approaching a stream of debris from Halley’s Comet, source of the annual eta Aquarid meteor shower. I assume if forecasters are correct, the shower will peak on the nights of May 4th through 6th this month with as many as 40 meteors per hour.



“This is a good year for eta Aquariid meteors,” says Bill Cooke of NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office. “The shower’s peak coincides with a New Moon, so skies will be dark for the display.”  It’s a great opportunity for photographers.

The best time to look is during the hours before sunrise when the constellation Aquarius is high in the southern sky. Nominally, May 5th will be the most active morning, but May 4th and May 6th should be good, too. Halley’s stream of debris is wide and spreads the display over three full days.

Wait, What?!

You can’t find the constellation Aquarius?

No Problem, you don’t need to. Although Halley’s meteors shoot out of Aquarius, they fly far across the sky. All you have to do is lie down under a dark clear sky and look up. The shower be obvious even without the guidance of a star chart.

Let’s hope those nights will be clear and free from clouds. For more information visit @ http://spaceweather.com

Crescent Visibility Reports for Ramadan & Shawwal 1440

In the Name of God, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.

Crescent Visibility Combined Report for Ramadan 1440 (Sunday 5th May 2019) & Shawwal 1440 (Monday-Tuesday, 3rd-4th June 2019)**, Based on settings*

Beforehand please note that if you’re located in KSA, or any other country following KSA calendar (Umm AlQura), then on Saturday 4th May 2019  is 29th Shaaban 1440 (The sighting day), it’s impossible to sight Hilal (The Moon Crescent) on this day. Therefore, Shabban will countinue to 30 days, As per the calculations not shown here in this report.

Crescent Visibility  Report for Ramadan 1440 (Sunday 5th May 2019) (29th of Shaaban 1440)

5th May 2019

*Settings:-

– OMAN Muscat, Long: 58:35:36.0, Lat: 23:36:48.0, Ele:21.0 m, Zone:4.00

Timing:(5th/05/2019)
@18:00:00 UTC+4
Sun Moon
Rise 05:30:24 05:53:34
Transit 12:03:14 12:28:11
Set 18:36:19 19:06:08
Azimuth (Degree)@18:00 ~284° 38.495`  ~279°31.652`
Altitude (Degree) @18:00 ~7° 21.499` ~13° 34.500`

Age of Moon: Waxing Crescent : ~ 0.64 days old. = 15.36 hrs old

Set Time difference : approx 30 minutes

The New Moon crecent first light will be in conjunction with the Sun on May 5th @ 02:54UTC+4, and based on the astronomical calculations, the Crescent (Hilal) would be possible yet very challenging to observe on this day.

Based on the Astronomical data report, the Sun sets at 6:36 Pm @ (288° WNW), and 7:06 pm @ (285° WNW) for the Moon which makes out around 30 minuets before each set below the true Horizon.

From this report, it is possible to sight the crecent “Hilal” with the help of optical Aid (Telescope), and the chances increases as we move towards the south west of the globe and or sighting at a higher altitude. It all depands on weather conditions at that place and time. If sighted, Ramadan will start on Monday 6th May 2019 (5th May After Sunset), if not, Shaaban will continue its 3o days InShaAllah (If God Wills) .

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Crescent Visibility Combined Reports for Shawwal 1440 (Monday 3rd / Tuesday 4th June 2019)**, (29th Ramadan 1440)  Based on settings*

 

**Note:

  • If Ramadan Started on Monday 6th May 2019, Then 29th Ramadan is on Monday, 3rd June 2019. (Refer 1st Report below)
  • If Ramadan Started on Tuesday 7th May 2019, Then 29th Ramadan will be on Tuesday, 4th June 2019. (Refer 2nd Report below)

 

(1st Report) Crescent Visibility Report for Shawwal 1440 (Monday 3rd June 2019) (29th Ramadan 1440)

3rd June 2019

From the Astronomical Calculations on 3rd June 2019,  We Conclude that if 1st Ramadan started on 6th May, Then Ramadan will continue its 30 days InShaAllah. Because based on settings in Oman, The Moon Crescent is not possible to sight on this day due to following reasons:

SunSet @ 18:49:56 UTC+4 , MoonSet @ 18:52:37 UTC+4 ,

Set Time Difference : ~ 2.5 Minutes Max

Age of Moon: Waxing Crescent : ~ 0.18 days old @Sunset. =4.32hrs old.

Sun Latitude:  -00°:0.043′   & Moon Latitude: -03°:5.025′   Very Near to the Sun and Very young.

It is very difficult to sight the Crescent even with experienced astronomer, Perfect Weather conditions and with Optical Assistant of Telescope and CCD Camera. Extremely challenging. Except if we go towards the south-west side of the Globe.

Screenshot 2019-04-26 at 22.23.45

 

(2nd Report) Crescent Visibility Report for Shawwal 1440 (Tuesday 4th June 2019) (29th Ramadan 1440)

However if Ramadan started on Tuesday 7th May 2019, then 29th of Ramadan will be on Tuesday, 4th June 2019, and based on Calculations settings, it is possible to sight the crescent on this day from Majority of the World.

4th June 2019

* Settings:-

OMAN Muscat, Long: 58:35:36.0, Lat: 23:36:48.0, Ele:21.0 m, Zone:4.00

Timing:(4th/06/2019)
@18:00:00UTC+4
 Sun  Moon
Rise 05:19:15 06:04:31
Transit 12:04:44 12:58:11
Set 18:50:21 19:53:54
 Azimuth (Degree) @18:00  ~290° 13.712`   ~284°23.775`
 Altitude (Degree)@18:00  ~10° 6.677` ~22° 56.016`

Age of Moon: Waxing Crescent : ~ 1.20 days old @ Sunset  = 28.8 hrs

Set Time difference : approx 64 minutes

Based on the Astronomical data report, the Sun sets at 6:50 Pm @ (294° WNW), and 7:54 pm @ (293° WNW) for the Moon which makes out around 64 minuets before each set below the true Horizon.

Screenshot 4th June 2019 at 18 UTC+4

 

The Azimuth between the Moon and the Sun is nearly and 12°  for the Altitude, which makes the sighting possible.

The New Moon crecent first light will be in conjunction with the Sun on June 3rd @ 14:11UTC+4 .

Based on the astronomical calculations and past experience , the Crescent (Hilal) will be visible across the country on this day. Factors such as site location & Atmospheric conditions will determine the conclusion.

This technical report is made only for sighting assistance, No final conclusions are made until the Moon Crescent sighting has been taken place.

Results will be published in comments section below. Please visit International Astronomical Center for detailed results across the globe.

Ramadan Kareem and Eid Mubarak in advance to Everyone.

May Allah Accept our fasting, Prayers and good deeds. Ameen.

For more information regarding the topic; Please feel free to search this blog above, just type “Hilal” under the search window.

The first image of black hole in history soon to be revealed

Watch Live today on 10th April 2019, @ 9 am EDT or 13:00 UTC: The Event Horizon Telescope Team Announcing When the world is about to see the first ever photo of a Black Hole. @alma.observatory & @ESOAstronomy

Live video will be available on the following link https://www.space.com/17933-nasa-television-webcasts-live-space-tv.html

Happy New Year 2019

Happy New Year

Happy New Year 2019 everyone

Live Long & Prosper 

Above picture of me standing in nowhere! 🙂 , picture taken in Iceland, December 2017.

2018 is part of history, welcome to 2019

Happy-New-Year-2019-Images-8

More pictures are in my Instagram @AstrOceanOmy

Crescent Visibility Report for Thul Hijjah 1439 AH

In the Name of God, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.

Crescent Visibility  Report for Thul Hijjah 1439 AH (Saturday 11th & 12th August 2018) (28th & 29th of Dhu al-Qidah 1439) Based on settings*

11th August 2018

* Settings:-

The geocentric conjunction (Geocentric New Moon) (First light touch) will occur Inshalla on (Saturday 11th August 2018) at 14:06 UTC+4 or 10:06 UTC.

OMAN Muscat, Long: 58:35:36.0, Lat: 23:36:48.0, Ele:21.0, Zone:4.00

Timing: (11th/08/2018)
@18:00:00
Sun Sun Moon Sleeping half-moon
Rise 05:40:25 05:21:30
Transit 12:11:41 12:08:50
Set 18:42:39 18:52:14
Azimuth (Degree)@17:00 283° 39.329′ 283°  6.106′
Altitude (Degree)@17:00 6°  49.858′ 8°  36.906′

Age of Moon: Waxing Crescent (Hilal) at sunset : ~ 0.2 days old.

Set Time difference : ~10 minutes

Based on the Astronomical data report, the Sun sets at 6:42 Pm UTC+4 @ (283° 39.329′ W), and 6:52 pm @ (283°  6.106′ W) for the Moon which makes out only around 10 minuets before each set below the Horizon. It is therefore very difficult to sight the Crescent on this day not only in Oman but the whole middle east region.

Based on Saudi Arabia on 11th August 2018 – 29th Thul Qidah 1439, and as usual, someone claimed to witness the Crescent, despite its extreme difficulty. The Officially 1st Thul Hijjah is on 12 August. Therefore Arafah Day will be on Monday 20th of August and 1st Day of Eid will be on Tuesday 21st August 2018.  For this, some countries had to follow the same to match the dates of the Arafah Day.

 


 

Crescent Visibility  Report for Thul Hijjah 1439 AH (Sunday 12th August 2018) (29th of Dhu al-Qidah 1439) Based on settings*

12th August 2018

* Settings:-

The geocentric conjunction (Geocentric New Moon) (First light touch) will occur Inshalla on (Saturday 11th August 2018) at 14:06 UTC+4 or 10:06 UTC.

OMAN Muscat, Long: 58:35:36.0, Lat: 23:36:48.0, Ele:21.0, Zone:4.00

Timing: (12th/08/2018)
@18:00:00
Sun Sun Moon Sleeping half-moon
Rise 05:40:50 05:28:24
Transit 12:11:32 13:07:32
Set 18:41:55 19:41:57
Azimuth (Degree) 273° 10.991′ 262° 58.720′
Altitude (Degree) 32°  18.339′ 44°  59.397′

Age of Moon: Waxing Crescent (Hilal) at sunset : ~ 1.20 days old.

Set Time difference : ~60 minutes

Based on the Astronomical data report, the Sun sets at 6:41 Pm UTC+4 @ (273° 10.991 W), and 7:41 pm @ (262° 58.720′ W) for the Moon which makes out only around 60 minuets before each set below the Horizon. It is therefore possible to sight by naked eye and astronomical instruments yet bit challaging because the moon will be at around 15° in altitude after the Sunset. It all depends on the weather and sighting sight conditions.

Please note that this technical report is for sighting purpose only and does not involve in any officially declaration of the month, please follow the government announcement in your country.

Updates on the results:-

11th August 2018: Sighting technicaly was not possible.

12th August 2018: Sighting was not possible despite good chance to observe compared to yesterday. I have sighted from the city by naked eyes only. Perhaps in other location it would be possible.

Wherever you are, May Allah’s blessing light your way, strengthen, your faith and bring joy to your heart as you, praise and server today, tomorrow and always. Hajj & Eid Mubarak

For more information regarding the topic; Please feel free to search this blog above, just type “Hilal” under the search window.

Crescent Visibility Combined Report for Ramadan & Shawwal 1439

In the Name of God, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.

Crescent Visibility Combined Report for Ramadan 1439 (Tuesday 15th May 2018) & Shawwal 1439 (Thursday, 14th June 2018)**, Based on settings*

Crescent Visibility  Report for Ramadan 1439 (Tuesday 15th May 2018) (29th of Shaaban 1439)

Crescent Visibility on 15th May 2018

*Settings:-

– OMAN Muscat, Long: 58:35:36.0, Lat: 23:36:48.0, Ele:21.0 m, Zone:4.00

Timing: (15th/05/2018)
@18:00:00UTC+4
Sun Moon
Rise 05:23:47 05:22:11
Transit 12:01:57 11:58:48
Set 18:40:20 18:38:43
Azimuth (Degree) @18:00 ~287° 22.529`   ~282°31.503`
Altitude (Degree) @18:00 ~7° 46.168` ~6° 58.868`

Age of Moon: Waxing Crescent : ~ 0.09 days old.

Set Time difference : approx 2 minutes  (Moon before the Sun)

Based on the Astronomical data report, the Sun sets at 6:40 Pm @ (289° WNW), and 6:38 pm @ (283° WNW) for the Moon which makes out around 2 minuets before each set below the Horizon.

From this report, We conclude that it will not be possible to sight the Crescent (Hilal)  on this day for many factors. Therefore Shaaban will continue its 3o days InShaAllah (If God Wills)  and Ramadan will start on 17th of May 2018. InShaAllah

———————————————————————–

Crescent Visibility Report for Shawwal 1439 (Thursday, 14th June 2018) (29th Ramadan 1439)

Crescent Visibility on 14th June 2018

*Settings:-

– OMAN Muscat, Long: 58:35:36.0, Lat: 23:36:48.0, Ele:21.0 m, Zone:4.00

Timing: (14th/06/2018)
@18:00:00UTC+4
Sun Moon
Rise 05:18:27 05:45:31
Transit 12:05:49 12:38:45
Set 18:53:15 19:33:11
Azimuth (Degree) @18:00 ~291° 2.682`   ~282°40.215`
Altitude (Degree) @18:00 ~10° 20.852` ~18° 28.725`

Age of Moon: Waxing Crescent : ~ 0.79 days old.

Set Time difference : approx 40 minutes

Based on the Astronomical data report, the Sun sets at 6:53 Pm @ (294° WNW), and 7:33 pm @ (290° WNW) for the Moon which makes out around 40 minuets before each set below the Horizon.

The WNW Sky on 14June2018 at18

The Azimuth between the Moon and the Sun is nearly and   for the Altitude, which makes the sighting bit challenging but possible.

The New Moon will be in conjunction with the Sun on June 13th @ 23:52UTC+4, and based on the astronomical calculations, the Crescent (Hilal) would be possible yet challenging to observe on this day.

Based on the astronomical calculations and past experience , the Crescent (Hilal) will be visible across the country on this day. Factors such as site location & Atmospheric conditions will determine the conclusion.

This is technical report only for sighting assistance, No final conclusion until the sighting has been taken place.

illustration image of Mundhir observing the skies

Ramadan Kareem and Eid Mubarak in advance to Everyone.

May Allah Accept our fasting, Prayers and good deeds. Ameen.

For more information regarding the topic; Please feel free to search this blog above, just type “Hilal” under the search window.

Crescent Visibility Combined Report for Ramadan 1438 & Shawwal 1438

In the Name of God, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.

Crescent Visibility Combined Report for Ramadan 1438 (Friday 26th May 2017) & Shawwal 1438 (Saturday-Sunday, 24-25th June 2017)**, Based on settings*

Crescent Visibility  Report for Ramadan 1438 (Friday 26th May 2017) (29th of Shaaban 1438)

Crescent Visibility on 26th May 2017

* Settings:-

OMAN Muscat, Long: 58:35:36.0, Lat: 23:36:48.0, Ele:21.0 m, Zone:4.00

Timing: (26th/05/2017)
@18:00:00UTC+4
 Sun  Moon
 Rise 05:19:46 05:51:35
Transit 12:02:38 12:38:11
Set 18:45:42 19:27:03
 Azimuth (Degree) @18:00  ~289° 23.192`   ~282°11.284`
 Altitude (Degree)@18:00  ~8° 54.671` ~17° 20.841`

Age of Moon: Waxing Crescent : ~ 0.76 days old.

Set Time difference : approx 41 minutes

Based on the Astronomical data report, the Sun sets at 6:45 Pm @ (292° WNW), and 7:27 pm @ (289° WNW) for the Moon which makes out around 41 minuets before each set below the Horizon.

@18:00 UTC+4 Muscat

On this day, the Moon sets nearly 41 minuets after the sunset, which makes the crescent sighting possible, yet difficult due to the angle and Crescent age at this time, however it is possible to sight the crescent with greater chances  from higher altitudes and towards the south of the country.

The New Moon will be in conjunction with the Sun on May 25th @ 23:53 UTC+4, and based on the astronomical calculations, the Crescent (Hilal) would be possible to sight on this day, depending on the weather climate. If not sighted on this day then Shaaban will continue its 30 days.

———————————————————————–

Crescent Visibility Report for Shawwal 1438 (Tuesday 24-25th June 2017) (29th Ramadan 1438)

**Note:

If Ramadan Starts on Saturday 27 May 2017, Then 29th Ramadan is on Saturday, 24th June 2017

If Ramadan Starts on Sunday 28 May 2017, Then 29th Ramadan will be on Sunday, 25th June 2017.

Screen Shot

From the Astronomical Calculations on 24th June 2017,  We Conclude that if 29th Ramadan starts on 27th May, Then Ramadan will continue its 30 days InShaAllah. Because based on settings in Oman, The Moon Crescent is not possible to sight on this day due to following reasons:

SunSet @ 18:55:43 UTC+4 , MoonSet @ 19:14:14 UTC+4 ,

Set Time Difference : 19 Minutes Max

Age of Moon: Waxing Crescent : ~ 0.50 days old. =12hrs old.

Sun Latitude:  -00°:00′:01″   & Moon Latitude: -03°:36′:07″   Very Near to the Sun and Very young.

It is very difficult to sight the Crescent even with experienced astronomer, Perfect Weather conditions and with Optical Assistant of Telescope and CCD Camera. Extremely challenging. Except if we go towards the south-west side of the Globe. 

Moon & Sun on 24th June 2017

However if Ramadan starts on Sunday, 28th May 2017, then 29th of Ramadan will be on Sunday, 25th June 2017, and based on Calculations settings, it is possible to sight the crescent on this day from Majority of the World. If Ramadan Crescent was sighted on 28th May 2017, Then Ramadan will end as 29 days most probebly because on 25th June 2017 is very easy to sight in most parts of the World.

Shawwal Crescent Visibility on 25th June 2017

* Settings:-

OMAN Muscat, Long: 58:35:36.0, Lat: 23:36:48.0, Ele:21.0 m, Zone:4.00

Timing: (25th/06/2017)
@18:00:00UTC+4
 Sun  Moon
 Rise 05:20:36 06:33:36
Transit 12:08:15 13:24:33
Set 18:55:52 20:14:02
 Azimuth (Degree) @18:00  ~290° 59.768`   ~279°9.086`
 Altitude (Degree)@18:00  ~10° 53.405` ~27° 31.012`

Age of Moon: Waxing Crescent : ~ 1.48 days old.

Set Time difference : approx 78 minutes

Based on the Astronomical data report, the Sun sets at 6:55 Pm @ (294° WNW), and 8:14 pm @ (290° WNW) for the Moon which makes out around 78 minuets before each set below the Horizon.

This is technical report only for sighting assistance, No final conclusion until the sighting has been taken place.

Ramadan Kareem and Eid Mubarak in advance to Everyone.

May Allah Accept our fasting, Prayers and good deeds. Ameen.

For more information regarding the topic; Please feel free to search this blog above, just type “Hilal” under the search window.

Crescent Visibility Combined Report for Ramadan & Shawwal 1437

In the Name of God, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.

Crescent Visibility Combined Report for Ramadan 1437 (Sunday 5th June 2016) & Shawwal 1437 (Tuesday 5th July 2016), Based on settings*

Crescent Visibility  Report for Ramadan 1437 (Sunday 5th June 2016) (29th of Shaaban 1437)

Ramadan 1437

* Settings:-

OMAN Muscat, Long: 58:35:36.0, Lat: 23:36:48.0, Ele:21.0 m, Zone:4.00

Timing: (5th/06/2016)
@18:00:00UTC+4
Sun Moon
Rise 05:18:14 05:31:58
Transit 12:04:09 12:19:21
Set 18:50:11 19:08:00
Azimuth (Degree) @18:00 ~290° 32.373` ~283° 50.161`
Altitude (Degree)@18:00  ~9° 51.004` ~13° 32.384`

Age of Moon: Waxing Crescent : ~ 0.48 days old.

Set Time difference : 18 minutes

Based on the Astronomical data report, the Sun sets at 6:50 Pm @ (293° WNW), and 7:08 pm @ (288° WNW) for the Moon which makes out around 18 minuets before each set below the Horizon

Screen Shot

On this day, the Moon sets nearly 18 minuets after the sunset, which makes the crescent sighting extremely difficult due to the angle and Crescent age at this time.

The New Moon will be in conjunction with the Sun on June 5th @ 07:08 UTC+4, and based on the astronomical calculations, the Crescent (Hilal) would be extremely difficult to sight on this day.

———————————————————————–

Crescent Visibility Report for Shawwal 1437 (Tuesday 5th July 2016) (29th Ramadan 1437)

Shawwal 1437

* Settings:-

OMAN Muscat, Long: 58:35:36.0, Lat: 23:36:48.0, Ele:21.0 m, Zone:4.00

Timing: (5th/07/2016)
@18:00:00UTC+4
Sun Moon
Rise 05:23:26 06:11:32
Transit 12:10:14 12:58:01
Set 18:56:25 19:42:43
Azimuth (Degree) @18:00 ~290° 5.277` ~279° 25.682`
Altitude (Degree)@18:00  ~11° 10.709` ~21° 19.047`

Age of Moon: Waxing Crescent : ~ 1.17 days old.
Set Time difference : ~46 minutes

Based on the Astronomical data report, the Sun sets at 6:56:25 Pm @ (293° WNW), and 7:42:43 pm @ (285° WNW) for the Moon which makes out only 46 minuets before each set below the Horizon.

Screen Shot

The Azimuth between the Moon and the Sun is nearly 11° and 10°  for the Altitude, which makes the sighting possible.

Based on the astronomical calculations and personal experience , the Crescent (Hilal) will be visible across the country on this day.

Please note: Ramadan will be 29 days InShaAllah, if the Crescent was sighted on Tuesday 5th July 2016. However if not sighted on that day, then Ramadan will continue its 30 days. It is highly possible to sight Hilal of Shawwal on Tuesday 5th July 2016 across the country.

This is technical report only for sighting assistance, No final conclusion until the sighting has been taken place.

2015-07-16-PHOTO-00008585

Ramadan Kareem and Eid Mubarak in advance to Everyone.

May Allah Accept our fasting, Prayers and good deeds. Ameen.

For more information regarding the topic; Please feel free to search this blog above, just type “Hilal” under the search window.

Pale Blue Dot

Celebrating the 30th Pale Blue Dot (Planet Earth) revolution around our Star (The Sun) since the owner of this website was born.

Pale_Blue_Dot

This is the “Pale Blue Dot” photograph of the Earth taken by the Voyager 1 spacecraft on July 6, 1990. The Earth is the relatively bright speck of light about halfway across the uppermost sunbeam. The original version of this image can be obtained from NASA.

PaleBlueDot

This narrow-angle color image of the Earth, dubbed ‘Pale Blue Dot’, is a part of the first ever ‘portrait’ of the solar system taken by Voyager 1. The spacecraft acquired a total of 60 frames for a mosaic of the solar system from a distance of more than 4 billion miles from Earth and about 32 degrees above the ecliptic. From Voyager’s great distance Earth is a mere point of light, less than the size of a picture element even in the narrow-angle camera. Earth was a crescent only 0.12 pixel in size. Coincidentally, Earth lies right in the center of one of the scattered light rays resulting from taking the image so close to the sun. This blown-up image of the Earth was taken through three color filters – violet, blue and green – and recombined to produce the color image. The background features in the image are artifacts resulting from the magnification.

Transcript: From this distant vantage point, the Earth might not seem of any particular interest. But for us, it’s different. Look again at that dot. That’s here. That’s home. That’s us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every “superstar,” every “supreme leader,” every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there—on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.

The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds.

Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.

The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes. Settle, not yet. Like it or not, for the moment the Earth is where we make our stand.

It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we’ve ever known.

— Carl Sagan (1934-1996)

A Moment to remember, Always