Earthrise
Next: December 24, 2026
Home, seen from the Moon.
The story
Where it comes from
On 24 December 1968, Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders of Apollo 8 became the first people to orbit the Moon. On their fourth pass, as Borman turned the spacecraft, the Earth rose above the barren lunar horizon, and Anders took the photograph now known as 'Earthrise': a blue and white planet, partly in shadow, hanging over a lifeless surface. This Story marks that day. Anders later said that the crew had gone to explore the Moon and ended up discovering the Earth.
How it's celebrated
That evening the crew sent a live broadcast from lunar orbit, showing viewers pictures of the Earth and the Moon. There is no organised observance, but the anniversary is a good night to look up: find the Moon, show a child the photograph, or send it to someone far away with a note that we all share one small planet.
Did you know
- Earthrise had happened on Apollo 8's three earlier orbits too; the crew saw it only on the fourth, because the spacecraft happened to be turning at the right moment.
- In 2018 the International Astronomical Union named a crater 'Anders' Earthrise' after the photograph.
- In 2007 Japan's lunar orbiter Kaguya filmed the first high-definition video of an Earthrise; JAXA notes that someone standing on the Moon would never see one, because from the surface the Earth stays almost fixed in the sky.
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