"The vast loneliness is awe-inspiring, and it makes you realize just what you have back there on Earth." – Jim Lovell On Dec. 24, 1968, Apollo 8 astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders became the first humans to orbit the Moon and the first to witness the Earth rising above the Moon's barren surface. That evening they held a live broadcast from lunar orbit, in which they showed pictures of the Earth and Moon as seen from their spacecraft. The mission is known for this iconic "Earthrise" image, snapped by Anders, which would give humankind a new perspective on our home planet. Anders has said that despite all the training and preparation for an exploration of the Moon, the astronauts ended up discovering Earth. Fifty-three years later, we celebrate the moment by looking back on this image. Credit: NASA/Bill Anders #NASA #Earthrise #Earth #Moon #Apollo8 #Astronauts #Space #Exploration #Throwback #HappyHolidays