One Giant Leap for Mankind: Vintage Photographs from the Victor Martin-Malburet Collection 
28 October 2022
, Orbital sunrise over Tranquility Base, Buzz Aldrin [Apollo 11], 16-24 July 1969 - Image 1 of 5
, Orbital sunrise over Tranquility Base, Buzz Aldrin [Apollo 11], 16-24 July 1969 - Image 2 of 5
, Orbital sunrise over Tranquility Base, Buzz Aldrin [Apollo 11], 16-24 July 1969 - Image 3 of 5
, Orbital sunrise over Tranquility Base, Buzz Aldrin [Apollo 11], 16-24 July 1969 - Image 4 of 5
, Orbital sunrise over Tranquility Base, Buzz Aldrin [Apollo 11], 16-24 July 1969 - Image 5 of 5
One Giant Leap for Mankind: Vintage Photographs from the Victor Martin-Malburet Collection 
, Orbital sunrise over Tranquility Base, Buzz Aldrin [Apollo 11], 16-24 July 1969 - Image 1 of 5
, Orbital sunrise over Tranquility Base, Buzz Aldrin [Apollo 11], 16-24 July 1969 - Image 2 of 5
, Orbital sunrise over Tranquility Base, Buzz Aldrin [Apollo 11], 16-24 July 1969 - Image 3 of 5
, Orbital sunrise over Tranquility Base, Buzz Aldrin [Apollo 11], 16-24 July 1969 - Image 4 of 5
, Orbital sunrise over Tranquility Base, Buzz Aldrin [Apollo 11], 16-24 July 1969 - Image 5 of 5
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Orbital sunrise over Tranquility Base, Buzz Aldrin [Apollo 11], 16-24 July 1969

printed 1969
vintage chromogenic print on fiber-based Kodak paper 8 h × 10 w in (20 × 25 cm)
estimate: $1,000–1,500
result: $344
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This picture was taken on orbit 4 looking west with the 80mm lens from the window of the LM Eagle as Armstrong and Aldrin were in the midst of activating the LM docked to the CSM Columbia. Tranquility Base landing site, which can be seen near the shadow line, a little to the right of center.
Numbered to upper margin and verso 'NASA AS11-37-5437' with NASA MSC caption and 'A Kodak Paper' watermarks.

note: Media visuals referencing the original NASA photograph(s) not included.
literature: LIFE, 11 August 1969 National Geographic, December 1969, ppg. 752-753 Time, 8 August 1969, pg. 21 Moon: Man’s Greatest Adventure, Thomas, ed., ppg. 188-189 Reynolds, pg. 138 Apollo Expeditions to the Moon (NASA SP-350), Cortright, ed., pg. 210

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LIFE, 11 August 1969

This picture was taken on orbit 4 looking west with the 80mm lens from the window of the LM Eagle as Armstrong and Aldrin were in the midst of activating the LM docked to the CSM Columbia.

The crew was approaching the nearside terminator (boundary between day and night on the Moon) and the Sun was just rising over the Tranquility Base landing site, which can be seen near the shadow line, a little to the right of center. The jagged shape to the left is one of the LM thruster engines. The 22-km Crater Maskelyne is the large one at the lower right.


National Geographic, December 1969, ppg. 752-753
Time, 8 August 1969, pg. 21

Latitude / Longitude: 0.2° N / 24.5°E

From the mission transcript (photograph taken at T+082:56:50 after launch):

082:54:01 Armstrong:

Man, this is really something, you ought to look at this. You want to watch our approach into the landing site. You got to watch right through this window. We’re coming over - we just passed Mount Marilyn. We’re coming up on Maskelyne series here - straight out ahead, coming into the landing area.

082:54:23 Collins:

Houston, we’re holding inertial a little while to study the approach to the landing zone. [...]

082:56:50 Aldrin:

Houston, this is Apollo 11, in the Eagle. Apollo 11 in the Eagle. And I got a beautiful view of the whole landing area.

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