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Bruce Murray Space Image Library

Lucy spots the Earth and Moon

Lucy spots the Earth and Moon
Lucy spots the Earth and Moon NASA's Lucy spacecraft captured this image of the Earth and Moon on Oct. 13, 2022, from a distance of 1.4 million kilometers (890,000 miles). The image was taken as part of an instrument calibration sequence as the spacecraft approached Earth for its first of three Earth gravity assists. These Earth flybys provide Lucy with the speed required to reach the Trojan asteroids — small bodies that orbit the Sun at the same distance as Jupiter. On its 12 year journey, Lucy will fly by a record breaking number of asteroids and survey their diversity, looking for clues to better understand the formation of the solar system. NASA / Goddard / SwRI