Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, or Michael Collins

The Earth

Apollo 11, July 16-24, 1969, 023:30:00 GET

Vintage photograph with NASA HQ caption on the verso with identifying number "AS11-36-5355".
20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in)

This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.
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Lot Essay

Apollo 11 was already about 98,000 nautical miles (182,500 km) from Earth when this picture was made with the 250mm telephoto lens.

This photograph has been widely reproduced as one of the most famous Earth photographs taken during the Apollo program and was extensively used by the environmental movement. The black sky of space was cropped by NASA photo editors so that the Earth appears bigger in the picture.

From the mission transcript as the astronauts were gazing at the Earth a couple hours after this photograph was taken:

024:45:35 Collins: It’s really a fantastic sight through that sextant. A minute ago, during that Auto maneuver, the reticle swept across the Mediterranean. You could see all of North Africa, absolutely clear; all of Portugal, Spain, southern France; all of Italy, absolutely clear. Just a beautiful sight.
024:45:54 McCandless (Mission Control): Roger. We all envy you the view up there. [...]
027:17:09 Aldrin: I’m looking through the monocular now, and I guess to coin an expression, the view is just out of this world.