Move over, Ellen DeGeneres! There’s a new selfie stealing the spotlight, and it’s light-years away! China’s Tianwen-2 space probe, currently on its way to explore an asteroid, just snapped a breathtaking selfie with Earth glowing as a tiny dot in the background. This isn’t just another photo; it’s a cosmic reminder of our planet’s humbling stature in the vast universe.

With its selfie taken approximately 43 million kilometers from Earth—an astonishing distance that matches its trajectory to an asteroid—it appears that even space probes want their moment on social media. Using a camera on its robotic arm, the Tianwen-2 captured a brilliant shot showcasing its return capsule adorned with the Chinese flag, proudly displaying humanity’s ambition to explore beyond our blue planet.

Doesn’t it feel like the probe just made the ultimate Instagram post? In a world where the mantra ‘if you didn’t post it, it didn’t happen’ rings true, this selfie by Tianwen-2 has gone viral, evoking the same awe as Ellen's iconic 2014 Oscars selfie.

The Tianwen-2 probe was launched in late May, marking impressive progress as it heads toward Kamoʻoalewa, or 2016 HO3, often called a ‘mini-moon’ due to its proximity to Earth. Scheduled to arrive by July 2026, the mission aims to collect valuable dust and rock samples, which will return to Earth by 2027. But that’s not all—after this mission, it will venture out to a comet named 311P/PANSTARRS, arriving there around 2035.

This selfie not only showcases the probe's operational success but also serves as a poignant reminder of Earth’s small size in the cosmic scheme. Thanks to Tianwen-2, we’re kept grounded while reaching for the stars. It’s quite the achievement, and we can’t wait to see what other wonders this mission uncovers!