John Young

Far-ultraviolet photograph of the Earth from the Moon’s surface

Apollo 16, April 16-27, 1972, EVA 1

Large-format presentation vintage chromogenic print on fiber-based Kodak paper, 21.8 x 22.2cm, stamped “S-72-36972” with NASA MSC caption numbered “S-72-36972” and “A Kodak Paper” watermarks on the verso
21.8 x 22.2cm

Arnold, plate 49.

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Lot Essay

A fantastic and abstract photograph of the Earth taken by man from the surface of another celestial body with the UV astronomy camera, a specifically designed scientific camera taken to
the Moon’s surface by the Apollo 16 crew.

According to the NASA caption, this is a “color enhancement of a far-ultraviolet photo of Earth
taken by John Young with the ultraviolet camera on April 21, 1972. The original black and white photo was printed on Agfacontour film three times, each exposure recording only one light level. The three light levels were then colored blue (dimmest), green (next brightest), and red (brightest). The three auroral belts, the sunlit atmosphere and the background stars (one very close to Earth, on left) can be studied quantitatively for brightness. The UV camera was designed and built at the Naval Research Laboratory, Washington.”

“The special camera is very similar to the one which obtained the images of Comet Kohoutek some time later from Skylab. On the sunlit (red) side of Earth can be seen ultra-violet day airglow which results from the absorption of far ultraviolet radiation from the Sun by the atoms and the molecules in the upper atmosphere. On the dark, top side, however, additional emission phenomena can be seen: near both polar regions are auroras, while there are also two bands of airglow symmetrically placed on opposite sides of the terrestrial magnetic equator” (Arnold, plate 49).