Eugene Cernan (American, 1934-2017)

Description:

Eugene Cernan (American, 1934-2017)
Panoramic view of Nansen Crater, Station 2, EVA 2, Apollo 17, December 1972. Numbered 'NASA AS17-137-20951' (NASA MSC) in red on the recto u.c. margin. Mosaic of three vintage chromogenic prints on fiber-based Kodak paper with 'A Kodak Paper' watermark on the verso, overall size 9 x 16 1/2 in. (22.8 x 41.8 cm),unmatted.
Condition: Good.

N.B. 'The site of Taurus-Littrow recalled the magnificent Hadley-Apennine valley from Apollo 15. Also at the edge of a lunar sea, the valley borders the Mare Serenitatis. A dark floor forms a plain between a ring of high, smooth-profile mountains, bright light gray in contrast to the basalt of the lava-flow valley' (Reynolds, p. 200). Station 2 was located at the foot of the South Massif (left of image) near the southeast rim of Nansen Crater (center of the image),4.8 miles from the LM. A landslide in this region put boulders from high on the massif into reach of the astronauts. The primary purpose of this stop was to sample these boulders, which represent material formed very early in the Moon's history that possibly came from deep within the Moon's crust (http://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/missions/apollo/apollo_17/surface_opp/). The North Massif forms the skyline of this impressive view. 'Well, I have some good pictures of Nansen, anyway, and... You know, I look out there, I'm not sure I really believe it all,' an incredulous Cernan said to Mission Control while he was capturing the panoramic view (Apollo 17 air-to-ground transmission). The additional NASA negative numbers are AS17-137-20940 and AS17-137-20949.

Literature: NASA SP-330, p. 6-80, fig. 6-106 (variant).
Estimate $2,500-3,500


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