[Apollo 15] THE ABSTRACT BEAUTY OF THE MOON: orbital views from lunar orbit (4 photos) James Irw...

[Apollo 15] THE ABSTRACT BEAUTY OF THE MOON: orbital views from lunar orbit (4 photos) James Irwin, David Scott or Alfred Worden, 26 July - 7 August 1971 Printed 1971. Four vintage chromogenic prints on fibre-based Kodak paper [NASA images AS15-93-12659, AS15-93-12663, AS15-93-12665 and AS15-93-12686]. Numbered 'NASA AS15-93-12659', 'NASA AS15-93-12663', 'NASA AS15-93-12665' and 'NASA AS15-93-12686' in red in the top margin, with 'A Kodak Paper' watermark on the reverses (issued by NASA Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston, Texas). Each: 25.4 x 20.3 cm. (10 x 8 in.) Historical context The beauty of another world from orbit. These spectacular unpublished photographs from color magazine 93/P were taken from the Command Module Endeavour over the nearside of the Moon through the powerful 250mm telephoto lens, featuring great detail of the moonscape. First photograph: floor of Crater Langrenus on the eastern shore of the Sea of Fertility (8.5° S / 59.5° E). Second photograph: area of Crater Lubbock H on the western edge of the Sea of Fertility (3° S / 42° E). Third photograph: the 29-km Crater Maskelyne A (foreground) and the 4-km bright Crater Censorinus in the southeastern Sea of Tranquillity (0.5° S / 32° E). Fourth photograph: Rima Bradley IV in area of the Montes Apenninus range, along the eastern edge of the Sea of Rains (21.5° N / 2.5° W). 'We left the Moon indelibly impressed with its stark, surrealistic features, its nearly overwhelming variety of landforms, and, above all, its awesome beauty.' Apollo 15 crew observations For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing