Apollo 8 Earthrise Photo
Earth above the Moon
Image Description
AS08-14-2383 (December 22, 1968) The rising Earth is about five degrees above the lunar horizon in this
telephoto view taken from the Apollo 8 spacecraft near 110 degrees east
longitude. The horizon, about 570 kilometers (250 statute miles) from the
spacecraft, is near the eastern limb of the Moon as viewed from the Earth.
On the earth, the sunset terminator crosses Africa. The south pole is in
the white area near the left end of the terminator. North and South
America are under the clouds. The lunar surface probably has less
pronounced color than indicated by this print.
In December of 1968, the Apollo 8 crew flew from the Earth to the Moon and back again. Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders were launched atop a Saturn V rocket on December 21, circled the Moon ten times in their command module, and returned to Earth on December 27. The Apollo 8 mission's impressive list of firsts includes: the first humans to journey to the Earth's Moon, the first manned flight using the Saturn V, and the first to photograph the Earth from deep space. As the Apollo 8 command module rounded the farside of the Moon, the crew could look toward the lunar horizon and see the Earth appear to rise, due to their spacecraft's orbital motion. The famous picture that resulted, of a distant blue Earth above the Moon's limb, was a marvelous gift to the world.
Square format Apollo archive images have been slightly cropped to achieve a 5:4 Landscape aspect ratio. Many of the original images were captured on film using the 70mm (2.25” x 2.25”) Hassleblad Lunar Camera which produces a square (1:1) ratio. You may select “Full Frame” next to the order button if you want the untouched original size. The default is Landscape.
In December of 1968, the Apollo 8 crew flew from the Earth to the Moon and back again. Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders were launched atop a Saturn V rocket on December 21, circled the Moon ten times in their command module, and returned to Earth on December 27. The Apollo 8 mission's impressive list of firsts includes: the first humans to journey to the Earth's Moon, the first manned flight using the Saturn V, and the first to photograph the Earth from deep space. As the Apollo 8 command module rounded the farside of the Moon, the crew could look toward the lunar horizon and see the Earth appear to rise, due to their spacecraft's orbital motion. The famous picture that resulted, of a distant blue Earth above the Moon's limb, was a marvelous gift to the world.
| Publisher's Comment |
| "Earthrise" is probably the world's most reproduced photograph. One sees it everywhere. Who can tire of it? This is the first photograph taken by man of Earth from Deep Space. Why not buy the Apollo 8 stamp too? For another Earthrise, see the Apollo 11 Earthrise. |
Square format Apollo archive images have been slightly cropped to achieve a 5:4 Landscape aspect ratio. Many of the original images were captured on film using the 70mm (2.25” x 2.25”) Hassleblad Lunar Camera which produces a square (1:1) ratio. You may select “Full Frame” next to the order button if you want the untouched original size. The default is Landscape.
These stamps commemorate the highly
successful Apollo 8 mission (December 21-27,
1968). The astronauts were Col. Frank
Borman, Capt. James Lovell, and Maj. William
Anders. This was the first time human eyes had
ever witnessed first-hand the beautiful blue
earth contrasted against the barren lunar
landscape. Date of Issue - May 5, 1969 Note: This stamp is heavily collected getting hard to find.Scott #1371 |
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