Earthrise
Apollo 8 photograph
Earthrise refers to the phenomenon of Earth appearing to rise above the lunar horizon, as seen from the Moon's surface or lunar orbit.
The term became iconic after the Apollo 8 mission in 1968, when astronaut William Anders photographed the blue-and-white Earth emerging above the gray lunar landscape.
This image is widely credited with galvanizing the environmental movement by showing Earth's fragility and isolation in space.
The Earthrise photo changed how humanity saw itself.
First crewed Moon orbit
- 1968Volatile year of upheaval
- lunar orbitPath around Earth's satellite
- NASAFederal space exploration bureau
- mission controlEarth-based space operations hub
Hasselblad · color photography · lunar surface · horizon · frame · exposure · composition · documentary
Prolonged East-West standoff
- space raceContest for orbital superiority
- moon landingCraft settling on satellite
- space ageSleekly modern, satellite-era
- pioneering spiritBoldness to explore uncharted territory
Apollo program · 1960s · NASA · astronauts · American · milestone · legacy · commemoration
Advocacy for nature protection
- ecologyStudy of environmental relations
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- stewardshipResponsible care of entrusted things
- sustainabilityCapacity to endure indefinitely
fragility · pale blue dot · home planet · interconnectedness · finite resources · biodiversity · protection
Pertaining to the universe
- curvatureDeviation from flatness
- horizonApparent earth-sky meeting
- atmosphereGaseous layer around planets
- sphericalGlobe-like in form
globe · pale blue dot · vantage point · distance · scale · smallness · isolation · void
Apollo 8
First crewed Moon orbit
- 1968Volatile year of upheaval
- lunar orbitPath around Earth's satellite
- NASAFederal space exploration bureau
mission control · Hasselblad · color photography · lunar surface · horizon · frame · exposure · composition · documentary · archive
Cold War
Prolonged East-West standoff
- space raceContest for orbital superiority
- moon landingCraft settling on satellite
- space ageSleekly modern, satellite-era
pioneering spirit · Apollo program · 1960s · NASA · astronauts · American · milestone · legacy · commemoration · anniversary
environmentalism
Advocacy for nature protection
- ecologyStudy of environmental relations
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- stewardshipResponsible care of entrusted things
sustainability · fragility · pale blue dot · home planet · interconnectedness · finite resources · biodiversity · protection
cosmic
Pertaining to the universe
- curvatureDeviation from flatness
- horizonApparent earth-sky meeting
- atmosphereGaseous layer around planets
spherical · globe · pale blue dot · vantage point · distance · scale · smallness · isolation · void · blackness
awe
Reverent fear and wonder
- wonderAmazement or curiosity
- breathtakingAstonishingly beautiful or exciting
- majestyImpressive supreme dignity
beauty · serenity · transcendence · epiphany · awakening · humility · reverence · profound · emotional · spiritual
- iconsapp icon, home icon, settings icon, search icon, share icon
- Moon missionsApollo 11, Apollo 12, Apollo 13, Apollo 14, Apollo 15