The Day the Earth Smiled refers to the date July 19, 2013, on which the
Cassini spacecraft turned to image
Saturn, its entire
ring system, and the Earth from a position where Saturn eclipsed the Sun.
Cassini imaging team leader and planetary scientist
Carolyn Porco called for all the world's people to reflect on humanity's place in the cosmos, to marvel at life on Earth, and to look up and smile in celebration. The final mosaic, shown here, was released four months later and includes planets Earth, Mars, and Venus, and a host of
Saturnian moons.
Photograph: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SSI
