China's space probe which is halfway to asteroid grabs stunning selfie as Earth glows tiny in the background
Published on Oct 13, 2025 at 11:33 PM (UTC-4)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on Oct 13, 2025 at 11:33 PM (UTC-4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
Move over, Ellen DeGeneres’ famous 2014 Oscars selfie, there’s a new player in town – China’s space probe, which is halfway to an asteroid, grabbed a stunning selfie in front of Earth as it glows tiny in the background.
China’s Tianwen-2 probe was caught snapping some pics for its Instagram profile, using the monitoring camera on its robotic arm.
In the frame, you can see the probe’s return capsule gleaming white, the Chinese flag proudly displayed, and way in the background… our home planet, reduced to a tiny shimmering dot.
At the time of the selfie, Tianwen-2 was about 43 million kilometres from Earth, which is almost exactly the same distance from its asteroid target.
EXPLORE SBX CARS – Supercar auctions starting soon powered by Supercar Blondie
China’s space probe grabs a stunning selfie in front of Earth
Have you ever heard the phrase ‘if you didn’t put it on Instagram, then it never happened’?
Well, it seems that along with millions of people, China’s space probe seems to agree. It basically broke the internet when it posted a selfie that had as much cultural impact as the 2014 Oscars selfie that Ellen took.
The Tianwen-2 probe is heading towards an asteroid, but it decided to celebrate making it halfway by snapping a quick shot with our home planet shining about 43 million kilometres away.
Incidentally, Tianwen-2 is the same distance away from its destination asteroid, so celebrations were certainly in order.
Halfway to its asteroid destination
The Tianwen-2 probe was only launched at the end of May this year, so it’s making very good progress towards Kamoʻoalewa, AKA 2016 HO3.
Kamoʻoalewa is often referred to as a ‘mini-moon’ because it orbits close to Earth, and China’s space probe’s ETA is July 2026.
It’s going to collect dust and rock samples and send them back to Earth in 2027. After it’s done that, it’s going to carry on to a comet called 311P/PANSTARRS where it will arrive in 2035, all being well.
The selfie is great because it shows us that the space probe is getting on well and everything is in working order, as well as reminding us how tiny Earth is in comparison to the rest of the universe.
We need to send a big thanks to Tianwen-2 for keeping us humble.
Daisy is a technology and automotive journalist covering artificial intelligence, consumer tech, Apple news, cryptocurrency, emerging technologies, and transportation innovation. Since joining the team in 2025, she has reported on everything from AI-powered startups and major iOS updates to viral car stories and the latest developments shaping transportation and the digital economy. Drawing on her background in automotive journalism and a degree in History and Journalism from Goldsmiths, University of London, Daisy specializes in breaking down complex topics into clear, engaging reporting for a global audience. Her work spans cutting-edge technology, innovative vehicles, and the people driving change across both industries. Daisy has gained first-hand access to some of the world's most talked-about technologies and innovators, including meeting Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot during its first European appearance in London. She has also discussed the future of space exploration with an astronaut, bringing unique insights and real-world perspectives to her coverage of emerging technology.
