[Apollo 17] EARTH SETTING BELOW THE MOON'S DARK HORIZON: the first 'Earthset' captured by humans...

[Apollo 17] EARTH SETTING BELOW THE MOON'S DARK HORIZON: the first 'Earthset' captured by humans (NASA's own copy, used and annotated, for the preparation of its final Apollo Science report) Harrison Schmitt, 7-19 December 1972 Printed 1972. Vintage chromogenic print on fibre-based Kodak paper [NASA image AS17-151-23175]. With original editorial labels in the white margins on the recto for publication in NASA's Apollo 17 Preliminary Science Report (NASA SP-330), with 'A Kodak Paper' watermark and traces of previous mounting on the reverse, numbered 'NASA AS17-151-23175' in red in the top margin (issued by NASA Manned Spacecraft Centre, Houston, Texas), together with an original NASA sheet indicating directives and notes (figure 4-10) for publication in the report. 20.3 x 25.4 cm. (8 x 10 in.) Historical context The first Earthset photographed by humans, an extraordinary visual moment in space exploration. This photograph is NASA's own archival copy used and annotated for the production of the Apollo 17 Preliminary Science Report (NASA SP-330) on humanity's final voyage to the Moon. As the spacecraft rounded the Moon's western limb for the second time and crossed over to the far side—preparing to lose radio contact with Mission Control—the crew used a 250mm telephoto lens to capture this exceptional view of their gibbous home planet sinking below the dark lunar horizon, as this region of the Moon lay in shadow. [Apollo 17 Preliminary Science Report caption] FIGURE 4-10.-Earthset. As the CSM and the LM rounded the western limb of the Moon on revolution 2, the crew photographed this unusual view of the gibbous Earth disappearing below the lunar horizon. The north pole of the Earth is toward the top of the photograph. On the left, the relief of the lunar surface near the western limb is sharply etched against the white clouds of the Earth; on the right is the sunset terminator of the Earth (AS17-151-23175). 'Very often on Apollo, the crews would take photos of Earthrise over the Moon's sunlit horizon. On this occasion, one of the Apollo 17 crew has had the wit to take a unique series of shots showing Earth setting behind the Moon's night-time horizon' (Apollo Flight Journal mission transcript at 092:45:53 GET). Footnotes: From the mission transcript when the photograph was taken: 092:45:37 Overmyer (Mission Control): America, Houston. We're about 3 minutes until LOS (Loss of Signal) and everything is looking great. No changes since our Go for DOI (Descent Orbit Insertion). We'll expect to see you at 93:34:24. 092:45:53 Cernan: We'll see you at 93:34:24, Bob. Literature Apollo 17 Preliminary Science Report (NASA SP-330), figure 4-10 For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing