Weekend Diversion: The Best Moon Photos Of All (Synopsis) [Starts With A Bang]

“Suddenly, from behind the rim of the Moon, in long, slow-motion moments of immense majesty, there emerges a sparkling blue and white jewel, a light, delicate sky-blue sphere laced with slowly swirling veils of white, rising gradually like a small pearl in a thick sea of black mystery. It takes more than a moment to fully realize this is Earth . . . home.” –Edgar Mitchell, Apollo 14

It’s arguable that we never came closer to leaving Earth than we did in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when the only humans in history ventured beyond low Earth orbit as part of the Apollo program. Have a listen to Nick Drake as he sings his Moon-themed song from that era,

Pink Moon.

In December of 1972, we left Earth — for the Moon — for the final time.

But just recently, NASA released over 8,400 original photos from all twelve Apollo missions. After looking through all of them, I’ve curated out some of the most iconic — yet simultaneously rarely-seen — photos for you.

Go enjoy them all for our Weekend Diversion!