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Moon surface photograph taken by Lunar Orbiter I

97-767
Accession Number
97-767
8x10 inches (21x26 cm)
Black & White
Related Collection
HST Keywords
Lunar Orbiter I; National Aeronautics And Space Administration
Rights

Public Domain - This item is in the public domain and can be used freely without further permission.

Note: If you use this image, rights assessment and attribution are your responsibility.

Credit:

Harry S. Truman Library & Museum.

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Description

This is the first photograph of the lunar surface taken by Lunar Orbiter I to be released in the United States. It is a reassembled photograph made up of 14 framelets. This was the first medium resolution photograph in a series of 20 frames taken by Lunar Orbiter I beginning at 7:43 a.m. PST, August 18. It was readout to Goldstone, California Deep Space Network station beginning at 12:51 p.m. PDT. North is approximately at the top of the photograph when it is viewed with the wall of the large depression on the left border. The Sun is then on the right at an elevation approximately 23 degrees from horizontal. The photograph covers an area 59 by 92 miles located on the western edge of Mare Smythii. In the lower right center is a crater about 18 miles in diameter with a central peak. Curving down the picture to the left from the upper right hand corner appears to be the boundary of Mare Smythii and the uplands to the west. The mare has an intricate ridge system to the right of the crater and a moderately high density of small craters. The brighter uplands to the west appear generally rougher than the mare and have typical highland structure. On the left border of the picture is the eastern rim of a large depression. On the left edge of the picture are photographic test patterns which will be used to calibrate the photography. Following this preliminary reassembly, the prime Lunar Orbiter data will be automatically reassembled at Eastman Kodak Co., for detailed study at NASA's Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia.

Date(s)
August 18, 1966