The photo was taken this past February 1, has only recently been shared with the public

May 10, 2014 19:55 GMT  ·  By

Folks at NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in the United States) don't make a living from entertainment, but it seems to me that they much enjoy putting a smile on people's faces every once in a while.

Unlike Hollywood sweethearts, whose idea of putting on a good show is starring in one blockbuster after another, scientists working with NASA like to keep us ordinary folks amused by releasing photos documenting the wonders of the world.

The photo above shows planet Earth as seen from the surface of the moon, and was taken earlier this year, on February 1, by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, Live Science tells us.

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is in the business of stalking the moon and snapping pictures of its surface on a regular basis. In doing so, it helps researchers look for sign of water or ice that might be lurking in the moon's craters.

However, it sometimes happens that the spacecraft grows tired of looking at the surface of the moon, and turns its attention to the satellite's exosphere. It is on such occasions that it manages to take pictures of our planet or other celestial bodies.

For those who haven't figured it out just yet, planet Earth is that tiny blue and white dot. Yes, we are this small.