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Lot 277
[Apollo 11] GLORIOUS EARTHRISE: the first Earthrise captured after trans-Earth injection Michael Collins, 16-24 July 1969
14 – 28 April 2025, 12:00 CEST
Paris, Avenue HocheSold for €4,352 inc. premium
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[Apollo 11] GLORIOUS EARTHRISE: the first Earthrise captured after trans-Earth injection
Michael Collins, 16-24 July 1969
Printed 1969.
Vintage chromogenic print on fibre-based Kodak paper [NASA image AS11-44-6652].
Numbered "NASA AS11-44-6652" in red in the top margin, with "A Kodak Paper" watermark on the reverse (issued by NASA Manned Spacecraft Centre, Houston, Texas).
20.3 x 25.4 cm. (8 x 10 in.)
Historical context
Apollo 11 was the first mission to capture this extraordinary view of Earthrise following trans-Earth injection. This half-lit blue Earth greeted Columbia after completing 30 orbits around the Moon and executing the crucial trans-Earth injection (TEI) burn, setting the crew on their journey home. By this stage, Columbia had climbed to an altitude of over 800 km, accentuating the pronounced curvature of the lunar surface. Several notable landmarks are visible, including Smyth's Sea (left) and the 120-km-wide dark-floored Crater Neper (just right of centre, with a distinct central peak).
As the astronauts witnessed this awe-inspiring sight, Buzz Aldrin exclaimed:
"Hey, I hope somebody's getting the picture of the Earth coming up." (see mission transcript.)
This rare and breathtaking photograph—captured by Michael Collins using the Hasselblad 500EL with a 250mm telephoto lens—was not published by NASA after the mission.
Printed 1969.
Vintage chromogenic print on fibre-based Kodak paper [NASA image AS11-44-6652].
Numbered "NASA AS11-44-6652" in red in the top margin, with "A Kodak Paper" watermark on the reverse (issued by NASA Manned Spacecraft Centre, Houston, Texas).
20.3 x 25.4 cm. (8 x 10 in.)
Historical context
Apollo 11 was the first mission to capture this extraordinary view of Earthrise following trans-Earth injection. This half-lit blue Earth greeted Columbia after completing 30 orbits around the Moon and executing the crucial trans-Earth injection (TEI) burn, setting the crew on their journey home. By this stage, Columbia had climbed to an altitude of over 800 km, accentuating the pronounced curvature of the lunar surface. Several notable landmarks are visible, including Smyth's Sea (left) and the 120-km-wide dark-floored Crater Neper (just right of centre, with a distinct central peak).
As the astronauts witnessed this awe-inspiring sight, Buzz Aldrin exclaimed:
"Hey, I hope somebody's getting the picture of the Earth coming up." (see mission transcript.)
This rare and breathtaking photograph—captured by Michael Collins using the Hasselblad 500EL with a 250mm telephoto lens—was not published by NASA after the mission.
Footnotes
From the mission transcript when the photograph was taken:
135:31:07 Collins: Okay, we got to visually acquire Moon, take pictures, and then you got a P52 to do. [...]
135:31:34 Armstrong: What are you doing, Mike? What you taking pictures of...
135:31:40 Collins: Oh, I don't know. Wasting film, I guess.
135:31:43 Armstrong: You can take some pretty good pictures out of the hatch, here.
135:31:46 Collins: You're right. This crapping thing - [garble] set on f:4 or 5.6; that's probably about right.
135:31:57 Aldrin: Here's a ring that came from somewhere, I wonder where? (singing)
135:32:04 Armstrong (onboard): You want to take pictures over here? Go ahead, why don't you just set up that...
135:32:07 Collins: I'll check Window 3.
135:32:10 Armstrong: ...set up that tape and let it do its thing. It's still got a long way to go for [garble].
135:32:15 Aldrin: Alright, now. Do we want black and white, colour, 250, or 80? I've got all options over here.
135:32:19 Armstrong: Oh, we'll probably want - How many cameras you got?
135:32:21 Aldrin: Let me have a camera. How many cameras?
135:32:23 Collins: Well, only one camera, but I've got [garble] lenses. [...]
135:34:41 Aldrin: Hey, I hope somebody's getting the picture of the Earth coming up.
135:34:44 Collins: [Garble]. Not quite pitched far enough. Well, maybe I can get it out...
135:34:53 Armstrong: I can get around to here.
135:34:54 Collins: [Garble] your window.
135:34:57 Armstrong: Upside down, turn the camera upside down. Then it'll look right.
Watch more
CLICK HERE: Apollo 11 - 16-mm magazine 1124-F