Robert McNeesJun 8, 2024

William Anders, astronaut on the Apollo 8 mission, passed away earlier today.

Anders took the iconic Earthrise photo while orbiting the Moon with Borman and Lovell. No human had ever seen an Earthrise before.

On the transmission he says "Oh my God, look at that picture over there! It's the Earth coming up. Wow, is that pretty!"

🌕

Image: NASA

Show threadrockpickJun 8, 2024
@mcnees wait... If the moon is always facing earth with the same side... How can there be an Earthrise on the moon at all?
Show threadraffitzJun 8, 2024
@rockpick @mcnees The Moon is tidally locked to the Earth. But Apollo 8 wasn't on the Moon, they were orbiting around it. For Apollo 8, they saw Earthrise.
For a hypothetical observer stationary on the surface of the moon, it would have been Apollo 8 rising above the horizon, with the Earth stationary (apart from precession).
Show threadbnbnbv
@raffitz @rockpick @mcnees mn ,
Jun 8, 2024 at 9:03amWeb