425 a
Alan Bean

Close-up of the descent engine bell of the LM Intrepid

Apollo 12, November 14-24, 1969, EVA 2, 132:00:36 GET

Vintage gelatin silver print on fiber-based paper, 21.8 x 27.8cm, with stamps “DAE-520615” (McDonnell Douglas) and “DEC 16 1969” on the verso (NASA / McDonnell Douglas) [NASA AS12-48-7034]

425 b
Alan Bean

Panoramic view of Triple Crater near Head Crater with the astronaut’s shadow in the foreground

Apollo 12, November 14-24, 1969, EVA 2, 132:31:20 GET

Unreleased photograph of a hand made mosaic assembled from 8 x 10 inch prints by the Mapping Sciences Laboratory at NASA MSC, vintage gelatin silver print on fiber-based paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), numbered “NASA S-70-24309” (NASA MSC) in black in top margin [NASA AS12-48-7056 to AS12-48-7058]

425 c
Pete Conrad

Alan Bean at Head Crater

Apollo 12, November 14-24, 1969, EVA 2, 132:31:52 GET

Vintage gelatin silver print on fiber-based paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), NASA HQ caption on the verso [NASA AS12-49-7213]
21.8 x 27.8cm

425 a
Light, plate 52.

425 b
NASA SP-235, p.23.

425 c
NASA SP-235, p.24.

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Lot Essay

425 a
The second EVA began on November 19 at 10:54 p.m. EST.

Bean took this photograph to document the effects of lunar landing on both the descent stage and a lunar rock right under it.

It is “a close-up view of a portion of quadrant II of the descent stage of the LM. At lower left is the LM’s Y footpad. The empty Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG) fuel cask is at upper right. The fuel capsule has already been removed and placed in the RTG. The RTG furnishes power for the ALSEP which the astronauts previously deployed. The LM’s descent engine is in the center background. The rod-like object protruding out from under the footpad is a lunar surface sensing probe” (original caption for AS12- 48-7034).

131:59:33 Conrad: (Get) one picture of that rock under the descent stage...
131:59:36 Bean: Will do.
131:59:37 Conrad: ...(then) grab the Hand Tool Carrier and head for the solar wind and grab a picture of that. In the meantime, I’ll lope off to the ALSEP and check the SIDE. I’ll meet you at Point 1 at Head Crater.

425 b
The major activity of this EVA was a long circular geology traverse, which covered a distance of approximately 4300 feet and first took the crew around the west side of Head Crater (https://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/missions/apollo/apollo_12/surface_opp/).

This photograph shows the shadow of the photographer Alan Bean in the lunar landscape in front of the so-called “Triple Crater” near Head Crater.

132:30:27 Bean: We’re approaching...
132:30:28 Conrad: Oh, look...
132:30:28 Bean: ...three craters, Houston
132:30:29 Conrad: ...look at these craters, Al! (Pause) Boy. (Pause) Now, Houston, do you want (a pan of) Head Crater from Triple Craters? Is that what you want, or do you want the triple craters? [...]
132:31:20 Bean: I took three quick pictures of Triple Craters, Houston. What you want, or do you want the triple craters? . . .

425 c
A frame of the Head Crater panoramic sequence which Conrad shot from its west rim during their first stop.

“The Eastern wall of Head Crater is visible with the LM Intrepid in the background. Bean is moving from right to left in the foreground. The trigger / handle assembly on his Hasselblad camera is visible as well as his saddlebag with flat sample bags attached to his back” (ALSJ caption for AS12-49-7213).

A very rare photograph showing an astronaut in motion in the one sixth gravity environment of the lunar surface.

“I would have taken a lot more photographs of us just running around. [...] None of the crews really took what I’d call still action photographs of people falling down or throwing objects.”
Alan Bean (Schick and Van Haaften, p.100)