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How Astronauts Took the Most Important Photo In Space History

Posted by Soulskill on from the disposable-camera-off-the-shelf dept.

The Bad Astronomer writes "On December 24, 1968, the Apollo 8 astronauts saw the Earth rising over the limb of the Moon. The photo they took of this moment — dubbed Earthrise — has become an icon of our need to explore, and to protect our home world. NASA has just released a video explaining how the astronauts were able to capture this unique moment, which included a dash of both coincidence and fast teamwork."

5 of 108 comments (clear)

  1. [SPOILERS] by zAPPzAPP · · Score: 4, Funny

    They used a camera.

    1. Re:[SPOILERS] by mythosaz · · Score: 2, Funny

      Having seen the brilliant documentary Capricorn One, I can assure you: While it might have been taken with a camera, it was clearly of a matte painting, not of the Earth itself.

  2. Re:Oh America by Minwee · · Score: 3, Funny

    My guess is they didn't choose Genesis chapter 3 for the reading either, about how Man shouldn't eat from the forbidden tree of knowledge, lest he realize he's naked.

    NASA felt that telling everybody that the crew of Apollo 8 spent the entire mission naked might be bad for the public image of the space program.

  3. Re:Perspective by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 4, Funny

    Perspective is such a wonderful thing

    Not from where I'm standing.

    --
    systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
  4. Well, at least ... by PPH · · Score: 1, Funny

    ... it wasn't this view.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.