Name: Capturing "Earthrise" from Apollo 8
Uploaded: undefined
Duration: undefined

Nova

Bill Anders was looking for a spot to land on the moon when he saw the Earth appear over the horizon. Many consider the resulting photo, “Earthrise,” to be one of the most important photos of the 20th century.

Many consider “Earthrise,” to be one of the most important photos of the 20th century.

Capturing "Earthrise" from Apollo 8

Koch Foundation

NOVA Science Trust Logo

As Apollo 8 circled the Moon, astronaut Bill Anders took photos of the surface. He was looking for future landing sites but photographed something else: Earthrise.

Many consider “Earthrise,” to be one of the most important photos of the 20th century.

Space & Flight

Capturing "Earthrise" from Apollo 8Published: March 21, 2019Onscreen: As Apollo 8 circled the moon, astronaut Bill Anders took photos of the surface. He was looking for future landing sites but found something else.William A. Anders: When the Earth came up in Earthrise, I didn't even have a light meter. I just started clicking away and changing the f-stops and fortunately, one of the pictures came out.John Aaron: That picture is probably the picture of the century. We thought we were going there to study to moon. No! We went to the moon, we learned a lot about the moon, but most of all, we learned about a new way to look at the Earth.Frank Borman: The sense of isolation and closeness of our humanity. I wish more people would focus on it.Frances (Poppy) Northcutt: Having that unifying experience, I think was a very profound and moving moment for people on Earth. To realize we're all on this one spaceship together. We better start taking care of it.Narrator: Before all this, seeing our home planet as it really is, and everything else — the rocket, the computer, leaving Earth — had only been dreamed of. In December 1968, it became forever real on Apollo 8.Aaron: This was the mission that all that happened.

United States

Northern Mariana Islands

Puerto Rico

American Samoa

Guam

U.S. Virgin Islands

U.S. Minor Outlying Islands

US & Territories

NOVA investigates the story of cannabis from the criminalization that has disproportionately harmed communities of color to the latest medical understanding of the plant. What risks does cannabis pose to the developing brain? How much do we know about its potential medical benefits? As cannabis becomes socially accepted, scientists are exploring its long-term health consequences. (Premiered September 29, 2021)Check out a previously recorded panel discussion and audience Q&amp;A featuring experts and producers from "The Cannabis Question" <a href="https://youtu.be/nSTT5RZ_hxA">here</a>.

As state-legalized cannabis spreads, NOVA explores its little-known risks and benefits.

The Cannabis Question

A 2006 composite image from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and Spitzer Telescope shows the chaos of baby stars in the Orion nebula some 1,500 light-years away. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/STScI

With the upcoming launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, the Hubble era is gradually drawing to a close. Here are some highlights from the countless wonders Hubble has shown us during its 31 years in space.

10 spectacular Hubble Space Telescope images

A statue of Zheng He at the Sam Poo Kong Temple in Java, Indonesia. Image Credit: Budianto Santosa, Shutterstock

In the 1400s, Zheng He sailed thousands of miles around Asia and Africa in ships the size of soccer fields, spreading Chinese innovations like compasses and gunpowder in the process.

Capturing "Earthrise" from Apollo 8

Support Provided By

Explore More

Apollo's Daring Mission

Five Apollo 8 Technological Breakthroughs

First Man on the Moon

Transcript

Credits

Support Provided By

Explore More

Apollo's Daring Mission

Five Apollo 8 Technological Breakthroughs

First Man on the Moon