Earthrise: How NASA Astronauts Shot One of the Most Beautiful PIctures Ever Taken

The 45th anniversary.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Just about 45 years ago on Christmas Eve, Apollo 8 astronauts were the first ever to watch the our planet rise over the moon's horizon, an "earthrise," is what they called it.

Though past astronauts had the chance to see the earthrise, none of their orbiters had faced the direction of the earth at the right moment to catch it. Once the team on this mission recognized what was happening, astronaut William Anders snapped a picture of our planet, and it's now considered one of the most significant photographs ever taken. NASA has created a detailed CGI video to demonstrate exactly what the astronauts saw and went through during those moments, in celebration of the 45th anniversary. 

"The video allows anyone to virtually ride with the astronauts and experience the awe they felt at the vista in front of them," NASA said in a blog post.

Check it out below.

[via NASA]

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