Above Blue Sky

Tag: Planets & Space Landscapes

  • First Hasselblad photographs of the Earth from space

    First Hasselblad photographs of the Earth from space

    Two views of Earth from space taken by Gordon Cooper from inside his Faith 7 capsule, showing high plateau near Himalayas (63-MA9-190) and China (63-MA9-197), partly overcast by clouds and capturing the curvature of the Earth.

  • Magnificient Earthrise

    Magnificient Earthrise

    This amazing photograph was taken on orbit 24 looking west over Smyth’s Sea through the 250mm telephoto lens. LIFE described the picture with an accompanying quote by Cernan as he observed the Earth rising from the LM Snoopy on another orbit (orbit 13): “Oh. Charlie. We just saw Earthrise and it’s got to be magnificent.“

  • The first color photograph of the first Earthrise witnessed by humans (Large Format)

    The first color photograph of the first Earthrise witnessed by humans (Large Format)

    The celebrated view of Planet Earth rising above the bleached lunar horizon (the first taken by human beings on color film). The crew had completed three lunar orbits before emerging from the farside and witnessing this sight for the first time, surely one of the most astounding ever photographed in all of human history.

  • The first human-taken photograph in lunar orbit

    The first human-taken photograph in lunar orbit

    For three days the Apollo 8 astronauts journeyed outward toward a goal they could not see. The Moon would fill their view once they slipped into orbit around it.

  • Almost Full Moon

    Almost Full Moon

    ‘Even though though the crew [of Apollo 13] remained calm, they also knew they were in serious trouble as Mission Control worked frantically to come up with life-saving answers, as recalled Gene Kranz: “By the end of the second day, this crew is two hundred thousand miles from Earth. They are fifty thousand miles from…

  • Earth, like a diamond in the lunar sky

    Earth, like a diamond in the lunar sky

    This is one of the very few Apollo photographs showing the Earth from the surface of the Moon, as seen by humans, in an extraordinary reversal of viewpoint. Eugene Cernan took great care of capturing this photograph of major philosophical importance. The last man on the Moon framed this fantastic shot at station 2, located…

  • Crescent Earthrise beyond the Moon’s barren horizon

    Crescent Earthrise beyond the Moon’s barren horizon

    Apollo 15 was the first of the Apollo “J” missions capable of a longer stay time on the moon and greater surface mobility. There were four primary objectives falling in the general categories of lunar surface science, lunar orbital science and engineering-operational.

  • Outstanding view of the moon

    Outstanding view of the moon

    Space MissionApollo 11, 21 July 1969 PhotographerNasa Photo DescriptionVintage chromogenic print on a fiber-based Kodak paper, 20.2 x 25.4 cm; NASA caption and ‘A Kodak Paper’ watermarks on verso, numbered NASA AS11-44-6665 in red ink in top margin EssayThis outstanding view of the entire nearside surface of the moon was photographed from the Apollo 11…

  • First photograph of an entire subcontinent from space: India from record breaking high altitude orbit.

    First photograph of an entire subcontinent from space: India from record breaking high altitude orbit.

    Space MissionGemini XI, 12-15 September 1966 PhotographerRichard Gordon Photo DescriptionVintage chromogenic print on fibre-based Kodak paper, 25.3 x 20.5 cm (10 x 8 in), [NASA photo no S-66-54677], with McDonnell Aircraft Corporation stamp and Id number, and A KODAK PAPER watermarks on verso EssayA stunning and majestic view of the entire subcontinent of India looking…

  • The “Picture of the Century” by LIFE magazine: into the heart of Crater Copernicus

    The “Picture of the Century” by LIFE magazine: into the heart of Crater Copernicus

    This historic photograph was taken with the 610mm high resolution telephoto lens featuring a dramatic northward view inside the majestic 93-km wide and 3.8 km deep Crater Copernicus (latitude 10° N, longitude 20° W), hailed at the time as “The Picture of the Century.”