Lot 699

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The first photograph and the first color photograph taken on the surface of Mars, the Red Planet, 20 July 1976

Viking 1

Name: The first photograph and the first color photograph taken on the surface of Mars, the Red Planet, 20 July 1976
Brand: Viking 1
Price: 12000.00 GBP
Availability: SoldOut

Price Realised GBP 15,000

Estimate

GBP 3,000 - GBP 5,000

Closed: 20 Nov 2020

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The first photograph and the first color photograph taken on the surface of Mars, the Red Planet, 20 July 1976

Viking 1

Price Realised GBP 15,000

Closed: 20 Nov 2020

Price Realised GBP 15,000

Closed: 20 Nov 2020

Details Lot Essay Related Articles More from

699 a
Taken by a camera on board the robotic Viking 1 spacecraft

The first photograph taken on the surface of Mars, the Red Planet

Viking 1, 20 July 1976

Vintage gelatin silver print on resin coated Kodak paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), with “This Paper Manufactured By Kodak” watermarks and NASA JPL caption affixed to the verso

699 b
Taken by a camera on board the robotic Viking 1 spacecraft

The first color photograph taken on the surface of Mars, the Red Planet

Viking 1, 21 July 1976

Vintage chromogenic print on resin coated Kodak paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), with NASA HQ caption numbered “Viking 1-54” and “This paper manufactured by Kodak” watermarks on the verso
20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in)

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Please note this lot is the property of a consumer. See H1 of the Conditions of Sale.

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This lot is offered by Christie Manson & Woods Ltd

Brought to you by

James Hyslop

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Lot Essay

“This is the first photograph ever taken on the surface of the Planet Mars. It was obtained by Viking 1 just minutes after the spacecraft landed successfully earlier today.” (NASA caption)

Launched on August 20, 1975, Viking 1 became the first unmanned spacecraft to land successfully on Mars eleven months later on July 20, 1976.

[NASA caption]
This color picture of Mars was taken July 21 _ the day following Viking 1’s successful landing on the planet. The local Time on Mars is approximately noon. The view is southeast from the Viking.
Orange-red surface materials cover most of the surface, apparently forming a thin veneer over darker bedrock exposed in patches, as in the lower right. The reddish surface materials may be limonite (hydrated ferric oxide). Such weathering products form on Earth in presence of water and an oxidizing temperature atmosphere.
The sky has a reddish cast, probably due to scattering and reflection from reddish sediment suspended in the lower atmosphere . The scene was scanned three times by the spacecraft’s camera 2, through a different color filter each time. To assist in balancing the colors, a second picture was taken of a test chart mounted on the rear of the spacecraft. Color data for the patches were adjusted until the patches were an appropriate color of gray. The same calibration was then used for the entire scene. Another version of this photo (Viking 1-46) with a sky that appeared more pink, gray and blue was shown last week. This interpretation has been modified with further processing.

“Apollo had a reason. It taught us how to go into space and set up our first outpost. Now we go set it up. Now we go to Mars.”
David Scott (Chaikin, Voices, p. 192)