642 a
Eugene Cernan

The majestic Earth above a large lunar boulder, station 2

Apollo 17, December 7-19, 1972, EVA 2, 143:08:09 GET

Vintage chromogenic print on resin coated GAF paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), with NASA Goddard caption and “GAF” watermarks on the verso [NASA AS17-137-20910]

642 b
Eugene Cernan

Diptych: portrait of a lunar rock in front of Nansen Crater, station 2

Apollo 17, December 7-19, 1972, EVA 2, 143:09:56 GET

Two unreleased photographs, vintage chromogenic prints on fiber-based Kodak paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), with “A Kodak Paper” watermarks on the verso, numbered “NASA AS17-137-20920, AS17-137-20921” in red in top margin (NASA MSC), each with three filing holes in top margin

642 c
Taken by the RCA TV Camera mounted on the Lunar Rover

The Earth in the lunar sky at Nansen Crater

Apollo 17, December 7-19, 1972, EVA 2, 143:20:00 GET

Unpublished photograph, vintage gelatin silver print on fiber-based paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), stamped “RCA Astro-Electronics 72-12-517” on the verso (NASA / RCA)

642 d
Eugene Cernan

Nansen Crater in the Valley of Taurus Littrow, station 2

Apollo 17, December 7-19, 1972, EVA 2, 143:21:57 GET

Unreleased photograph, vintage chromogenic print on fiber-based Kodak paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), with “A Kodak Paper” watermarks on the verso, numbered “NASA AS17-137-20948” (NASA MSC) in red in top margin, with three filing holes in top margin
20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in)

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Lot Essay

642 a
Cernan went downhill the large rock named “boulder 2” to take this magnificent picture of Earth, which he could see above the rock as he approached it.
He had to lean backward to take the shot.
The summit of the South Massif forms the background.

“The Earth looked big; and, like the Moon looks down here, it probably wasn’t as big as it looked. Yet, because the Earth’s beauty was so predominant, there was also a feeling that it was the most precious possession a man could stow in his memory. There was the beauty of the colors of the oceans and the clouds: multiple shades of blue, from the azure of the Caribbean to the deep dark blues of the Pacific; the shades of white of the clouds and the snow; and the black of space around it.” said Eugene Cernan (from the ALSJ mission transcript at 143:20:14 GET).

642 b
Nansen Crater is visible behind the boulder named “boulder 2”. The North Massif forms the skyline in the background of the first photograph. These cross-Sun pictures show in great detail the entire south face of the boulder.

“Station 2 was located at the foot of the South Massif near the southeast rim of Nansen Crater, 4.8 miles from the LM. A landslide in this region put boulders from high on the massif into reach
of the astronauts. The primary purpose of this stop was to sample these boulders, which represent material formed very early in the Moon’s history that possibly came from deep within the Moon’s crust” (http://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/missions/apollo/apollo_17/surface_opp/).

143:09:56 Cernan: Yeah. Well, it looks like the same texture, but it’s got that flaky fracture pattern all over it. I’m going to get a (flightline) stereo while I’m at it.
143:10:08 Schmitt: Yeah. (Pause)
143:10:13 Cernan: This ought to cover any samples I take off of that thing. (Pause) I’m going to get myself a zap of cold water. (Pause) Man, we’ve got to be a million miles away from the LM.
143:10:36 Schmitt: Okay, this is a crystalline rock, Houston. It’s got nice white halos around the zap pits. The (centers of the) zaps are not dense black glass, but a dark greenish...a very dark greenish-gray.

642 c
“Even on the TV, it is a spectacular view,” said Eugene Cernan (from the ALSJ mission transcript at 143:20:14 GET).

143:20:00 Parker (Mission Control): And, 17, if you want to take a minute, you might look up in the sky and notice that our (TV) camera is taking a beautiful picture of Mother Earth.
143:20:10 Cernan: Isn’t that pretty over...Can you see the Massif, too?
143:20:14 Parker: Now we’re coming down to look at the Massif.”

642 d
A frame from a panoramic sequence captured at station 2 from about 10 meters upslope from
Boulder 2.
The inner wall of Nansen Crater is in the foreground. The North Massif with the Lincoln Scarp at its base forms the skyline of this impressive view of the lunarscape of Taurus-Littrow.

143:22:08 Cernan: Well, I have some good pictures of Nansen, anyway, and... You know, I look out there, I’m not sure I really believe it all.