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When a rare planetary alignment opened up the outer Solar System, Voyager 1 was sent forth. It observed the gas giants Jupiter and Saturn and their moons. At nearly 4 billion miles from the Sun, the probe turned and took one last picture of home before continuing its journey to the stars.

Voyager 1 – Gas Giants and a Last Look Homeward

A nice infographic about the Voyager Mission.

And here's where you can read more about the preparation for the Grand Tour and the Golden Record.

This is one of my favorite depictions of Carl Sagan's meditation on the Voyager portrait of the Solar System. He called the pixel that included Earth the pale blue dot. It's interpreted by graphic artist Gavin Aung Than.

Today is the 17th anniversary of Carl Sagan's death.

Early in 1979 Voyager 1 was near Jupiter. Here is an image it took of Jupiter's Great Red Spot It's a stunning image, which has the qualities of an abstract painting. But it shows a massive storm over three times the size of Earth plus the bands of clouds that continuously circulate in Jupiter's atmosphere.