WILLIAM ANDERS [APOLLO 8]

Name: FIRST HUMAN-TAKEN PHOTOGRAPH OF THE PLANET EARTH
Brand: WILLIAM ANDERS [APOLLO 8]
Price: 17000.00 GBP
Availability: SoldOut

Price Realised GBP 21,250

Estimate

GBP 5,000 - GBP 8,000

Closed: 26 Oct 2021

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FIRST HUMAN-TAKEN PHOTOGRAPH OF THE PLANET EARTH

WILLIAM ANDERS [APOLLO 8]

Price Realised GBP 21,250

Closed: 26 Oct 2021

Price Realised GBP 21,250

Closed: 26 Oct 2021

Details Lot Essay Related Articles More from

Vintage chromogenic print on fiber-based Kodak Paper with “A Kodak Paper” watermarks on the verso [NASA AS8-16-2593]
8 x 10in. (20.3 x 25.4cm.)

From the collection of Mike Acs

Specified lots are being stored at Crozier Park Royal (details below) or will be removed from Christie’s, 8 King Street, London, SW1Y 6QT by 5.00pm on the day of the sale. Christie’s will inform you if the lot has been sent offsite. If the lot has been transferred to Crozier Park Royal, it will be available for collection from 12.00pm on the second business day following the sale. Please call Christie’s Client Service 24 hours in advance to book a collection time at Crozier Park Royal. All collections from Crozier Park Royal will be by pre-booked appointment only. Tel: +44 (0)20 7839 9060 Email: cscollectionsuk@christies.com. If the lot remains at Christie’s, 8 King Street, it will be available for collection on any working day (not weekends) from 9.00am to 5.00pm
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.
Please note this lot is the property of a consumer. See H1 of the Conditions of Sale.

Conditions of Sale
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This lot is offered by Christie Manson & Woods Ltd

Brought to you by

James HyslopHead of Department, Science & Natural History

A Christie's specialist may contact you to discuss this lot or to notify you if the condition changes prior to the sale.

jhyslop@christies.com +44 (0) 20 7752 3205

Lot Essay

William Anders and his crewmates James Lovell and Frank Borman became the first humans to see the Earth as a sphere hanging in space. The photograph was taken with the 80mm lens from about 27,000 km out in space.

“A striking view from the Apollo 8 spacecraft showing nearly the entire Western Hemisphere, from the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, including nearby Newfoundland, extending to Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of South America. Central America is clearly outlined. Nearly all of South America is covered by clouds, except the high Andes Mountain chain along the west coast. A small portion of the bulge of West Africa shows along the sunset terminator” (original NASA caption for AS8-16-2593).

From the mission transcript after translunar injection:

003:38:00 Lovell: Roger. Well, Mike, I can see the entire Earth now out of the center window. I can see Florida, Cuba, Central America, the whole northern half of Central America, in fact, all the way down through Argentina and down through Chile.
003:38:25 Collins (Mission Control): They picked a good day for it. [...]
004:06:36 Collins: How close to a radial burn can you get without losing sight of the S-IVB (booster), Frank?
004:06:41 Borman: Well, I don’t know because I can’t see the Earth now, Mike. [...]
004:06:51 Borman: We can pitch down some. Jim has the Earth in the optics so we could pitch some and get pretty close to one (a radial burn), I guess. [...]
004:17:11 Collins: Roger, Frank. You could help us out if you would explain where you are relative to the booster. In other words, with respect to the Earth and the radius back there, are you above or below or one side, or where exactly is the booster relative to you?
004:17:27 Borman: Well, it’s as I said before. We can’t definitely find the Earth. I think we are in front and a little bit above - a little bit above the - almost in front of the - directly in the front of the booster. [...]
004:36:00 Anders: Roger. If it will help you any, Mike, the Earth is plus-Y about 45 degrees in a minus-X. I can see it out my side window, and it’s a beautiful view with numerous cloud vortex. [...]
004:36:51 Anders: It’s behind us to the right, if that will help.
004:36:54 Collins: Roger. [Long pause.]
004:37:15 Borman: I can still see the Cape and isthmus of Central America.