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Magnificent original vintage semi-glossy 12.75 x 13.5 silver gelatin photograph of the moon's surface taken by Lunar Orbiter 2 on November 23, 1966, showing a close-up detail view of the northern heart of the Crater Copernicus from an oblique angle, revealing the peaks and valleys of its rocky terrain. Affixed to a 16 x 18 mount, with a detailed affixed caption on the reverse, in part: "Photo No. 66-H-1470: This is a portion of the first closeup photograph of the crater Copernicus, one of the most prominent features on the face of the moon, taken at 7:05 p.m. EST, November 23, by Lunar Orbiter II's telephoto lens. Looking due North from the crater's southern rim, detail of the central part of Copernicus can be seen. Mountains rising from the flat floor of the crater are 1000 feet high with slopes up to 30°. A ledge of bedrock is visible in the central part of the mountain chain on the floor of the crater. The 2000 foot high mountain on the horizon is the Gay-Lussac Promentory in the Carpathian Mountains. Cliffs of the rim of the crater are 1000 feet high and are undergoing continual down slope movement of material. From the horizon to the base of the photograph is about 150 miles…The photograph was transmitted from the spacecraft to the Deep Space Network Station at Goldstone, California on November 28." The reverse also bears a small affixed image of Copernicus photographed from Earth at Yerkes Observatory, and a felt tip annotation, "Elle, Kodak." In fine condition.
Before this historic image was returned to Earth, few realized the true nature of the lunar landscape: 'On first seeing this oblique view of the crater Copernicus,' declared Oran W. Nicks, Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Space Science and Applications, NASA, 'I was awed by the sudden realization that this prominent lunar feature I have often viewed by telescope is a landscape of real mountains and valleys, obviously fashioned by tremendous forces of nature. It is no wonder that some writers immediately classified it as the 'Picture of the Year'!'
LIFE Magazine went even further, deeming this the 'Picture of the Century.' Never before had the majesty of the moon's surface been so perfectly portrayed—viewed from an oblique angle, the characteristics of the landscape are clearly cast by shadows from the rising sun. A superlative example of this groundbreaking lunar photograph.
