Here’s a stunning reminder that we live on a spinning blue marble

With all the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life, sometimes it’s hard to keep things in perspective. But every now and then something simple comes along to remind us all of just where we sit in the universe. This time, we can thank NASA for putting us back in our place.

NASA just released an image that really speaks to not only the fact that everyone — everyone — lives on just a small planet in a much larger universe, but also the need to take care of the blue ball we all call home. The photograph is also gorgeous on another level.

The shot was taken by DSCOVER (or Deep Space Climate Observatory) on July 6. DSCOVER is a satellite taking pictures of Earth on different wavelengths, allowing scientists to analyze the images it sends back in a variety of ways. It’s able to do so because it has the Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera . . . or EPIC for short. Seriously perfect name.

These images are going to be used for a variety of studies, including monitoring the ozone layer and plant growth around the world. Plus, the images can help with mapping solar wind, which will help space programs make weather alerts and forecasts. (We’re saying this all pretty casually, but it’s hella impressive.)

The image shared yesterday is not only gorg, it also reminds us all of how interconnected everything and everyone is on this single, solitary planet. It’s an incredible image showing one side of the Earth completely lit up by the sun. It’s striking and beautiful. As President Obama tweeted upon seeing the photo:

He’s right, and images like this are a great chance to think about what we can all do to help make the world a cleaner, safer and better place.

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(Image via NASA)