The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof

Posted on April 4, 2026 
Filed under for your prayers

Commander of NASA’s Artemis 2 mission, Reid Wiseman, took this photo of the Earth yesterday, shortly after the crew had fired their engine to leave Earth orbit to travel to the vicinity of the Moon. (Image credit: NASA.)

The photo has been widely shared in the media. It shows the night-time side of the Earth, illuminated by the full Moon, which is behind the spacecraft. The Sun is hidden behind the Earth.

The planet Venus is the bright point at top left, and a reflection of something inside the cabin is the bright spot just below the centre of the picture. Auroras are visible at both poles, and stars can be seen in the blackness of space.

As published, the photo has usually been shown with north at the bottom, making identification difficult. The image above is rotated to north at the top. A comparison might help in working out what is what.

Psalm 24 reminds us that “The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein…”

If you look closely at the picture (click for a larger version – or see the unrotated original here), you can pick out the lights of cities across NW Africa  and the Iberian Peninsula. Madrid is the brightest light there.

Each of those lights represents thousands – or millions – of people. People who need to come to know the Lord Jesus who died and rose again for them.

As well as praising the Lord for the wonder of his creation, praying for the people framed in that photo would be a good way to pray this Easter.