4.3.7-
After their rendez-
Figure 4.3.7.1: AS11-
Figure 4.3.7.2: Main image -
As far as timing is concerned, the ESSA pass over the terminator for the image dated the 21st is number 1820 (Track 7), which was started at 01:01 on the 22nd. The NIMBUS orbits used are the first started on the 22nd (1324). The last of which started at 00:54 on the 22nd. The restored NIMBUS version shows patterns much more clearly and other features can be identified.
According to the timeline information and the ALSJ, the TEI burn was performed at 04:55, or 135:23 MET, shortly after what would have been the start of orbit 19. Although before the burn the crew were concerned about the cameras getting in the way (as g forces would be generated by the engines, any free floating equipment is a potential hazard), after it had completed they were very keen to take more photographs, and there are many exchanged discussing what films are available and what should be photographed. We then have this conversation in the CM transcript:
135:34:11 Collins (onboard): Yes, more than two. AOS.
…
135:34:41 Aldrin (onboard): Hey, I hope somebody's getting the picture of the Earth coming up.
135:34:44 Collins (onboard): [Garble]. Not quite pitched far enough. Well, maybe I can get it out...
135:34:53 Armstrong (onboard): I can get around to here.
135:34:54 Collins (onboard): [Garble] your window.
135:34:57 Armstrong (onboard): Upside down, turn the camera upside down. Then it'll look right.
At the time Aldrin was asking whether Earthrise was being photographed, the CM had increased its altitude to over 500 miles, which explains the increased curvature of the lunar surface, and it would seem that the photograph just analysed was the final Earthrise seen after the TEI burn. For this reason Stellarium has been set at the time of AOS, and the match between what should be there and what is there is obvious.
The scene was also captured on 16mm footage, and a high resolution version of the shot can be found here. Figure 4.3.7.3 shows a screenshot from the footage and a close up of Earth.
Figure 4.3.7.3: Sill from 16mm footage in lunar orbit.
Again we have video footage that matches the still images, and the satellite record. It’s almost as if they were actually there.
It takes a while for the next view of Earth, the crew have been somewhat busy setting their sights on home. he first image examined on the return journey is AS11-
Figure 4.3.7.4: AS11-
Figure 4.3.7.5: Main image -
On the now magnified Earth, the storm identified in figure 4.3.6.12 off southern Chile (magenta arrow) has moved onshore and there are still persistent fog banks off northern Chile (yellow arrow). When the ATS-
The SkySafari time estimate puts the terminator at roughly 18:45 GMT. As far as satellite timings are concerned, the main ATS-
There is a very similar colour photograph on magazine 44, AS11-
Figure 4.3.7.6: AS11-
Figure 4.3.7.7: Section of West Africa around the terminator from AS11-
Although seemingly the same view of Earth as the black and white image from magazine 38, the colour image shows much less of Saharan Africa along the terminator. The view on the opposite limb, however, shows that the same weather patterns are present, and that the difference along the terminator is more a product of the different films and exposure used. It’s highly likely they were taken at the same time for comparison.
The next image from the 22nd is again one that is duplicated in magazines 38 and 44, although on this occasion there is very little difference between the two, and therefore they must have been taken very close together. On this occasion, the colour image (AS11-
Figure 4.3.7.9: ESSA-
The 'X' shape (blue arrow) is much more visible now, and is evidently not in the same configuration as the 'X' shown on the 21st. The storm systems off south America are coming into view, and these are also in a different configuration to those shown on previous days.
SkySafari estimates a time of around 23:00 for the photographs, and this compares with an estimated start time for ESSA's terminator orbit (track 3, pass number 1829) of 18:09. The NIMBUS track for the terminator is orbit 1332, which commenced at 15:12.
Having suggested that the two photographs were taken at the same time, it's worth double checking that they aren't actually just the same photograph. Figure 4.3.7.10 shows a comparison of the two images at the terminator region over Chile.
Figure 4.3.7.10: AS11-
The suggestion here is that the colour image was taken marginally before the black and white image, as the large band of cloud running left to right across the centre of the images appears closer to the terminator in the black and white version, and there are similar differences elsewhere on the photographs. They could, however, just be reflections of different image quality, but what does emerge is that there are enough subtle differences to show that they are not identical images rendered black and white through some sort of image processing. It is likely that the colour image was taken first, and the difference in the two around the terminator represents the time difference involved in setting down one camera, picking up the other, checking the settings and taking the photograph.
That’s the last photograph taken on day 7. Day 8 sees us nearer home, and a dramatic story of meteorology to the rescue! Click the links below to read about it.