December 25, 1996
Light takes eight minutes to travel from the Sun to the Earth. It took the universe 13.8 billion years to make you.
An Earth Ornament Credit:
Birthday · December 25, 1996
A little universe, just for you
Your date.
Ready to give.
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APOD published December 25, 1996. Full image credits are on the original APOD entry below. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.
The Apollo 8 astronauts spent the 1968 Christmas Season in lunar orbit, returning with striking images of the Moon and Earth from space which inspired the world. While in lunar orbit in 1994, the prospecting Clementine spacecraft also turned its cameras toward the home world - the result was this mosaic of 70 high resolution images of our planet from a cosmic perspective. The swirling clouds and dramatic colors give the Earth the appearance of a delicate, painted ornament hanging in space. Best Wishes and Seasons Greetings!