[Lunar Orbiter IV] The whole Moon first seen from a perspective different...

[Lunar Orbiter IV] The whole Moon first seen from a perspective different from Earth. NASA, May 1967. Printed 1967. Large-format vintage gelatin silver print on fiber-based paper [NASA image LRC IV-89M]. 51×61 cm (20×24 in), numbered “NASA LRC IV-89M” in black in bottom margin (NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia).

A young George Lucas must have seen that fabulous image from 1967, inspiring the Death Star of his imagination.

Lunar Orbiter IV was the first of the five Lunar Orbiters to fly in a polar rather than a near equatorial orbit. After the success of the first three missions in mapping the near side equatorial region of the Moon to very high resolution, NASA decided to use the fourth orbiter to map the entire Moon at moderate resolution. Lunar Orbiter was the first robotic spacecraft to take detailed photographs of the whole Moon from lunar orbit, offering amazing never before seen views of Earth’s satellite, from a perspective different from Earth. Soviet spacecraft had already sent back whole Moon images, but mostly very crude.

This superb medium resolution photograph of the crescent Moon was taken with the wide-angle 80mm lens from an altitude of 2734 km and centered on Crater Descartes (future Apollo 16 landing site) in highlands between the Sea of Tranquility and the Sea of Clouds (latitude 14.45° S, longitude 16.59° E).

Condition Report:Excellent condition.

Category:Photos ▸ Vintage photographs