When astronauts discovered Earth from the Moon

On Christmas Eve 1968, as Apollo 8 orbited the Moon, astronaut William “Bill” Anders captured a photograph that forever altered how humanity sees itself.
That image, now famously known as “Earthrise,” shows our blue-and-white planet emerging above the stark, gray lunar horizon — delicate and vibrant against the backdrop of space.
In that instant, Anders and his fellow astronauts, Frank Borman and Jim Lovell, were not just explorers of the Moon but witnesses to a profound new view of Earth, never-before seen by any human.
The Apollo 8 mission was the first to send humans around the Moon. Its primary purpose was to scout future lunar landing sites.

The image spread quickly, appearing on magazine covers, posters, and postage stamps. (Photo: Nasa)

Yet, what became most significant about this mission was not the Moon itself, but the unexpected sight of Earth as it appeared from 2,40,000 miles away.
Anders, mesmerised by the scene, scrambled for a camera and immortalised the moment. Years later, reflecting on the mission, he noted, “We came all this way to explore the Moon, and the most important thing is that we discovered the Earth.”
That single photograph did more than capture a moment — it shifted humanity’s collective consciousness.
For the first time, Earth was seen from afar, suspended in the vastness of space, a fragile rock teeming with life.
The stark contrast between the barren lunar landscape and the vibrant Earth sparked a new understanding of the planet’s beauty and vulnerability.
The image spread quickly, appearing on magazine covers, posters, and postage stamps, symbolising Earth’s uniqueness in the universe.

Apollo 11 lander as seen on the surface of the Moon. (Photo: Nasa)

Perhaps most importantly, “Earthrise” became a powerful symbol for the budding environmental movement. It reminded people that our planet, small and isolated, was in need of protection.
Galen Rowell, a famed wilderness photographer, called it “the most influential environmental photograph ever taken,” and its impact was immediate. Within two years, Earth Day was established in 1970, inspired in part by the growing environmental awareness that the photograph helped ignite.
In the decades since, Anders’ photograph has remained an iconic symbol of Earth’s fragility. It reminds us of our responsibility to protect the only home we have.
While Apollo 8’s mission was focused on the Moon, it unexpectedly gave humanity a new view of its own world—a discovery that has continued to resonate across generations.