631 a
Harrison Schmitt

The planet Earth, centered over Australia, from 174,000 km away

Apollo 17, December 7-19, 1972, 022:27:19 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 AS17-148-22739” (NASA MSC) in red in top margin

631 b
Harrison Schmitt

Earth from a distance of approximately 230,000 km, showing South America, Africa and Antartica

Apollo 17, December 7-19, 1972, 033:30:00 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 AS17-148-22743” (NASA MSC) in red in top margin

631 c
Harrison Schmitt

Earth, centered on Australia and Antarctica, seen from 356,700 km away, in the lunar sphere of
influence

Apollo 17, December 7-19, 1972, 072:55:26 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 AS17-148-22762” (NASA MSC) in red in top margin
20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in)

This lot will be removed to Christie’s Park Royal. Christie’s will inform you if the lot has been sent offsite. Our removal and storage of the lot is subject to the terms and conditions of storage which can be found at Christies.com/storage and our fees for storage are set out in the table below - these will apply whether the lot remains with Christie’s or is removed elsewhere. Please call Christie’s Client Service 24 hours in advance to book a collection time at Christie’s Park Royal. All collections from Christie’s 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 it will be available for collection on any working day 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Lots are not available for collection at weekends.
Please note this lot is the property of a consumer. See H1 of the Conditions of Sale.

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

Brought to you by

Lot Essay

631 a
Schmitt took this telephotograph through the 250mm lens.

022:26:02 Schmitt: Okay, I had a quick - quick look and just to bring you up to date, we’re starting to be able to see the coast of Asia. The Philippines are wide open today. And the - that tropical storm Theresa that I mentioned I thought I could see - indeed, I’m sure that’s what that little concentrated mass of clouds was north of New Guinea. And, I suspect, although I didn’t get a good fix on it, that the folks in Guam may be in for some heavy weather.
022:26:37 Overmyer (Mission Control): Roger. [Long pause.]
022:27:19 Schmitt: Oh, and, Bob, I got another pair of pictures. And that would be up to 134.

“The Red continent of Australia [...] conquers the illusion that the Earth is ocean alone, becoming the Earth’s natural desert beacon.”
Harrison Schmitt (NASA SP-350, p. 266)

631 b
Schmitt took the photograph through the 250mm telephoto lens during the second day of the mission, showing “all the blending masses of greens, reds, and yellows of Africa from the Mediterranean to the Cape of Good Hope, from Cape Vert to the Red Sea. Then we see across the great Atlantic from matching coast to matching coast. Scanning all of South America with one glance, we seemingly cease to move as the planet turns beneath us,” as remembered Harrison Schmitt (NASA SP-350, p.266).

034:29:28 Schmitt: Film update on mag November November. I’m on frame 138, and that includes a couple of pictures I mentioned to Bob (Overmeyer, Mission Control) I took just before I went to sleep. And also, two pictures this morning at about 33:30. Those are the Earth.

631 c
The astronauts took this photograph through the 250mm telephoto lens as they were about to enter the gravitational influence of the Moon.

“With something of the sadness felt as loved ones age, we see the full Earth change to half. [...] The line of night crosses water, land, and cloud, sending its armies of shadows ahead. We see that night, like time itself, masks but does not destroy beauty,” reflected Harrison Schmitt (NASA SP-350, p. 265).

072:45:46 Public Affairs: This is Apollo Control at 72 hours, 45 minutes. Apollo 17 now 37 minutes away from entering the lunar sphere of influence. Present distance from Earth is 189,878 nautical miles [351,654 km]; velocity, 2,360 feet per second [719 m/s].
072:55:26 Overmyer (Mission Control): 17, Houston.
072:55:31 Schmitt: Go ahead, Bob.
072:55:32 Overmyer: I just wanted to give you fair warning, Jack. In case you all feel a bump there when you’re about ready to go to sleep there. At 73:17:45, you’ll cross that magic line into the lunar sphere of influence.