Earth, the 1972 Edition: A Trip to the UV Side!

If you ever thought Earth was just a big ball of blue and green dotting the universe, think again!

Thanks to a little creative genius by astronaut John W. Young back in April 1972, we now have proof that our planet has some serious UV style! Get ready for a cosmic throwback that will make you think, “Wow, Earth’s got more colors than my grandma’s living room!”

Picture this: the intrepid Commander Young, armed with nothing more than an ultraviolet camera and a willingness to defy the dull monochrome norms of yesteryear, took a photo of our beloved blue planet. But instead of just hitting the “print” button and calling it a day (like most of us would when told to take a photo), he decided to kick it up a notch. After capturing this stunning image, he printed it on Agfacontour film—not once, not twice, but THREE times! Yep, three times, because why not? If you’re in space taking photos, you might as well go all out!

Each print recorded a different light level, which sounds fancy and scientific, but let’s be real: it’s basically like Earth’s very own photogenic personality test. The dimmest light level got the blue makeover, looking all chill and serene, while the next brightest was like, “Okay, I’ll put on some green for a little pop!” Finally, the brightest light level strutted out in red like it just won the interstellar lottery, saying, “Look at me, I’m the brightest star on this block!”

Imagine the Earth during that photo shoot: “Hey, blue, are you feeling okay?” “Of course! Just taking it easy!” “Green, you’re looking particularly vibrant today!” “Well, you know how it is, just trying to find my sunny side!” And then there’s Red, who’s just yelling, “I AM THE WORLD!”

This photo enhancement drama is like a cosmic twist on our traditional “before and after” transformations. Instead of hearing about a boring weight loss journey, we get to witness our planet stepping into its UV filter, proving that even Earth has its glamorous side.

So the next time you take a look at a picture of Earth, remember to thank John W. Young for bringing a splash of color into our lives and helping us realize that the planet we call home is a lot more fabulous than we gave it credit for. It’s dressed to impress in UV styles so vivid they could give your highlighter collection a run for its money!

Forget gray skies and mundane landscapes—Earth has literally taken a selfie and burst into a rainbow of color that says, “Hey universe, look at me! I’m fabulous!” And with that, here’s a toast to our colorful planet, the ultimate selfie-taker of the cosmos! 🌍🎨

Image via NASA https://ift.tt/w0mDso2