[Apollo 11] The first photograph of a human shadow on the surface...

[Apollo 11] The first photograph of a human shadow on the surface of another world: Buzz Aldrin's shadow at Tranquility Base. Buzz Aldrin, 16–24 July 1969. Printed 1969. Vintage gelatin silver print on fiber-based paper [NASA image AS11–40-5882, originally shot on color film]. 20.3×25.4 cm (8×10 in), numbered “40–5882” in the left margin (NASA / United States Geological Survey, Flagstaff, Arizona).

An extremely rare frame from the 360° panoramic sequence of Tranquility Base taken by Buzz Aldrin from the rim of the so-called Double Crater on a position 7 m west of the LM ladder. This superb image was not released by NASA after the mission.

The bright ‘halo’ around the shadow of Buzz’s helmet in the last photograph is due to “some combination of diffraction around the helmet and/or the coincidence of maximum zero-phase backscatter with that part of Buzz’s shadow” (ALSJ caption for AS11–40-5882).

From the mission transcript when the photograph was taken:

110:28:22 Aldrin: As I look around the area, the contrast, in general, is...comes about completely by virtue of the shadows. Almost (garbled) looking down-Sun at zero-phase very light-colored gray, light gray color (garbled) a halo around my own shadow, around the shadow of my helmet. [...]

Condition Report:Excellent condition.

Category:Photos ▸ Vintage photographs