Earthrise
Photographer: William Anders
Date: December 24, 1968
Location: Lunar orbit
William Anders captured this photograph on Christmas Eve, 1968, as Apollo 8 orbited the Moon. As the spacecraft emerged from behind the Moon on its fourth orbit, Anders spotted the Earth rising above the lunar horizon and grabbed a camera — initially loaded with black-and-white film, then quickly switching to color. The resulting image was the first color photograph of Earth from the vicinity of the Moon. Earthrise is credited with helping inspire the modern environmental movement; the photograph is often cited alongside 'The Blue Marble' as one of the most influential ever taken. Writer Archibald MacLeish's reflection on seeing it — describing humans as 'brothers who know now that they are truly brothers' — captured the philosophical impact. It is widely credited with launching a new awareness of Earth's fragility.
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