Compared to the overall size of our planet our atmosphere and the habitable outer shell are extremely thin layers.

This biosphere is very vulnerable and took millions of years to evolve.

For example: It took plants and trees millions of years to create an Oxygen-rich atmosphere.

That is why we have to monitor the atmospheres composition so carefully: any change can have an huge impact on the planet’s biosphere and therefore our lives.

Click image for a larger view.

What an amazing image – I never get tired looking at our planet. Snapped by Apollo 11.

*thanks to edosan for sending this one*

Compared to the Universe were are not that big. But even our home planet isn’t that big. Even our small layer of atmosphere isn’t that big. Even the amount of drinkable water and agricultural land isn’t that big.

So we should take a LOT of care to keep our tiny niche in the universe in order and clean. It will take a long time till we discover a new place as good as this one.

*Thanks to Edosan for sending me this great shot*

Click each image for a larger version.

I don’t know – maybe because I grew up with space ships and that great promise to meet aliens someday that ’space porn’ still incredibly excites me.

And still at 40 I want to become an Astronaut. Today most kids don’t give a crap about outer space. They want to be Rappers, Super Models or simply rich.

Society as a whole is disenchanted with space exploration and science. Good thing that governments and the science community itself keeps pushing forward.

Thanks to all people who have sent me many space shots. Keep ‘em coming …