Images by Apollo astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong for auction

2023-06-26

Own a piece of man’s most daring adventure: Historic images taken by Apollo astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong including the iconic first ever ‘earthrise’ seen by humans are up for auction

Some of the images in the collection are expected to fetch almost $13,000 each
The Apollo 8 ‘Earthrise’ is up for auction, which was taken on December 24, 1968

Historic images captured by Apollo astronauts Buzz Aldrin and the late Neil Armstrong – including the iconic first ever ‘earthrise’ seen by humans – are up for auction and could be yours.

The original collection – chronicling man’s most daring adventure – is part of auction house Dreweatt’s upcoming Space Exploration and Ephemera sale.

Some of the iconic images are expected to rake in almost $13,000 each.

They include photos of the first earthrise witnessed by humans during Apollo 8, which launched from Kennedy Space Center at 7:51am on December 21, 1968.

The celebrated ‘Blue Marble’ shot showing our planet fully illuminated by the sun is also going under the hammer, taken by the crew of Apollo 17 as they travelled towards the Moon.

The snaps feature as part of 330 lots and 1,200 photographs in Drewatt’s sale, set to take place on Thursday.

The Apollo programme was the third United States human spaceflight programme carried out by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) between 1968 and 1972.

It succeeded in preparing and landing the first humans on the Moon.

The missions all launched from the Kennedy Space Center.

Photographs documenting man’s first encounter with the Moon were pre-planned and integrated into the missions – though some unscheduled photos were also taken by astronauts.

They operated specially adapted, lightweight Hasselblad cameras, while photography company Kodak was responsible for processing the images once back on Earth.

The photographic laboratory of North American Rockwell’s Space Division processed and printed the photos on vintage Kodak paper immediately after the Apollo missions for documentation, analysis, and public relations purposes.

Read on to see some of the images up for grabs.

Apollo 8 ‘Earthrise’ (24 December 1968)

The ‘earthrise’ image, lot 113, is the most celebrated photograph of the Earth rising above the Moon’s horizon.

This picture captures the first earthrise ever witnessed by humans and photographed in colour.

It was taken the night before Christmas in 1968.

This piece is expected to fetch between $3,000 to $6,500 in the upcoming auction.

The Apollo 8 ‘Earthrise’ image is the most celebrated photograph of the Earth rising above the Moon’s horizon

Apollo 11 ‘Planet Earth’ (16-24 July 1969)

Lot 168 is regarded as one of the most iconic images ever taken of our planet.

It was captured as the spacecraft headed towards the Moon, around 98,000 miles from the Earth.

The photograph shows most of Africa, as well as parts of Europe and Asia. It was taken from the Apollo 11 spacecraft during its trans-lunar coast towards the Moon.

This stunning piece is expected to fetch between $1,500 and $2,300.

Lot 168 is regarded as one of the most iconic images ever taken of our planet

Apollo 11 ‘Visor’ portrait of Buzz Aldrin on lunar surface (July 1969)

This famous photograph is considered the most iconic image from the Apollo 11 mission.

Lot 189 is a rare portrait of Buzz Aldrin with the Lunar Module. Astronaut Neil Armstrong is reflected in his gold-plated visor.

This piece is estimated to be worth between $2,500 and $3,850.

Lot 189 is a rare portrait of Buzz Aldrin with the Lunar Module. It is the most iconic photograph taken on the Apollo 11 mission

Apollo 11 The ‘Eagle’ station-keeping with Earth in the background (16-24 July 1969)

This photograph, Lot 210, captures the Moon, earth and the spacecraft coming back from the surface of the Moon.

It was taken by Michael Collins, who orbited the Moon when he was waiting for Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong to finish exploring the Moon.

This stunning photo is expected to fetch between $1,900 and $3,200.

This photograph, Lot 210, captures the Moon, earth and the spacecraft coming back from the surface of the Moon

Apollo 17 ‘Blue Marble’ (7-19 December 1972)

Lot 310 shows what the crew of the last Moon landing mission, Apollo 17, saw and photographed.

It shows the view of the Earth when fully lit up by the sun.

This spectacular piece was taken in the first half of December, 1972.

This photo is anticipated to be worth between $6,300 and $12,750.

Lot 310 shows what the crew of the last Moon landing mission, Apollo 17, saw and photographed

Apollo 11 Buzz Aldrin Seismic Experiment (July 1969)

This stunning image shows astronaut Buzz Aldrin wit the seismic experiment during the Apollo 11 mission.

Solar panels have been stationed on the left and right and the antenna is pointed at Earth.

The laser reflector is beyond the antenna and the TV camera is silhouetted against the dark sky.

This stunning image shows astronaut Buzz Aldrin wit the seismic experiment during the Apollo 11 mission

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