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Lunar Panoramic Photography - Apollo 12

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NASA's Apollo Lunar Surface Journal (ALSJ)[1] records the details of each mission's time on the lunar surface as a timeline of the activities undertaken, the dialogue between the crew and Mission Control, and the relevant documentary records. Each photograph taken on the mission is catalogued there and each photographic sequence is also recorded. This page tabulates the Apollo 12 panoramas and, where appropriate, provides updated representations of the panoramas blended using more recent technologies than the originals.

Context

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Having proven that the viability of landing on the Moon with Apollo 11, NASA extended the objectives of Apollo 12 in two key areas; executing a precision landing close to a known target, and extended surface EVA activities. The first was achieved when the Lunar Module, Intrepid, touched down within sight of Surveyor 3 that had landed on the Moon over 2 years previously. Whereas the Apollo 11 crew only had up to 150 minutes during their EVA, the Apollo 12 crew more than tripled that amount over two Moonwalks, which included a visit to the Surveyor craft.

In terms of photography, almost four-times as many photos were taken compared to its predecessor, with a similar proportion being used for panoramas. Unlike Apollo 11 though, a higher proportion of these were taken whilst on the surface rather than inside the LM before or after the EVAs.

The post-mission Preliminary Science Report[2] indicates that the crew took 23[3] panoramas whereas the ALSJ records 29 examples. In some cases, the complete, 360° panoramas were impacted by the low Sun angle and greater detail can be gained by omitting the down-Sun exposures from the panoramic sequences. The report also indicated that the original panoramas were analysed "with high precision, from measurements of glass-plate reproductions of the photographs", whereas modern panorama technologies have rendered such approaches as obsolete.

To assist in gaining bearings, the Lunar Module (LM) Intrepid, landed with its door and ladder leg (AKA "+Z strut") pointing about 25° north of due west. The Sun's elevation[4] was between 7.5° and 9.5° for EVA 1, and 15.8° and 17.8° for EVA 2.

Panoramas taken from inside the Lunar Module

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Following the successful landing of Apollo 11, the emphasis on collecting contingency photos and samples was greatly reduced for Apollo 12. The flight plan simply states "Describe & Photograph Lunar Surface" as the first action after the immediate post-landing activities (Page 133 Apollo 12 Flight Plan[5]). Subsequently, there are 4 non-EVA panoramas taken from the LM on Apollo 12.


Caption Table 12.1 Non-EVA panoramas
Mission Time (MET) EVA # Location Astronaut Magazine Type Start Frame End Frame Alternate Panorama Source Reference Panorama Notes
XII 111:58:43 Pre-EVA CDR Window Conrad 48 Mono 7023 7027
ALSJ[6]
Alternate panorama included to illustrate how stitched panoramas may vary according to their original content. The Reference panorama (immediately to the left of this text box) omits the 7027 image but results in poor blending between the component images in the centre. The Alternate (furthest to the left) includes 7027 which resolves the poor blend, but now includes the Landing Point Designator that was etched on the surface of the glass.
XII 111:58:43 Pre-EVA LMP Window Bean 48 Mono 7028 7033 N/A ALSJ
XII 120:10:34 Post-EVA-1 CDR/LMP Windows Conrad/Bean 46 Colour 6853 6867 N/A ALSJ
This Reference Panorama has been manually arranged. Due to the source photos being taken from different locations (namely, the CDR and LMP windows) creating a full panorama requires a fair degree of image manipulation to render, hence the unblended representation of the result. The two following sub-panoramas show the individual views through the windows.
XII 120:10:34 Post-EVA-1 CDR Window Conrad 46 Colour 6853 6859
ALSJ N/A Sub-panorama - Blended representation of image above.
XII 120:10:34 Post-EVA-1 LMP Window Bean 46 Colour 6860 6867
ALSJ N/A Sub-panorama - Due to overlapping coverage and movement by the photographer, this image is made up of AS12-46-6863, 6865, 6866, and 6867 only.
XI 135:45:48 Post-EVA-2 CDR/LMP Windows Conrad 48 Monochrome 7153 7171 N/A ALSJ
This Reference Panorama has been manually arranged. Due to the source photos being taken from different locations (the CDR and LMP windows) creating a full panorama requires a fair degree of image manipulation to render, hence the unblended representation of the result. The two following sub-panoramas show the view through each of the windows.
XI 135:45:48 Post-EVA-2 CDR Window Conrad 48 Monochrome 7153 7158
ALSJ N/A Sub-panorama - Blended representation of image above.
XI 135:45:48 Post-EVA-2 LMP Window Bean 48 Monochrome 7159 7171
ALSJ N/A Sub-panorama using a subset of 7159-7171

EVA Panoramas

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Almost every historical reference on Apollo 12 notes the congeniality of the crew towards each other. This comes through in the dialogue between Pete Conrad and Al Bean during their EVAs (which was peppered with chuckles and giggles throughout), and also within the photos, with both taking "Tourist Shots" of the other at various points.

Despite Bean's issues with the TV camera, the standard of photography taken on the stills cameras is particularly strikinig - especially in the monochrome images.

Table 12.2 EVA panoramas
Mission Time (MET) EVA # Location Astronaut Magazine Type Start Frame End Frame Alternate Panorama Source Reference Panorama Notes
XII 116:22:29 EVA 1 Pete's 12 O'clock LM Pan Conrad 46 Colour 6730 6745 N/A ALSJ
XII 116:24:47 EVA 1 Pete's 4 O'clock LM Pan Conrad 46 Colour 6746 6763 N/A ALSJ
XII 116:27:03 EVA 1 Pete's 8 O'clock LM Pan Conrad 46 Colour 6764 6782 N/A ALSJ
XII 116:27:03 EVA 1 Pete's 8 O'clock LM Pan Conrad 46 Colour 6776 6781 N/A LPI
Sub-panorama of "Pete's 8 O'clock LM Pan" above
XII 116:27:03 EVA 1 Al photographing the plus-Y footpad Conrad 46 Colour 6777 6780 N/A ALSJ
Sub-panorama of "Pete's 8 O'clock LM Pan" above - note, slightly wider than the LPI variant.
XII 116:57:52 EVA 1 Pete's ALSEP Site Pan Conrad 46 Colour 6796 6811 N/A ALSJ
Alternate showing Al Bean's attached shadow.
XII 118:18:09 EVA 1 Pete's First Pan at Middle Cresent Crater Conrad 46 Colour 6836 6844 N/A ALSJ
Later variant from HR sources.
XII 118:18:41 EVA 1 Pete's Second Pan at Middle Cresent Crater Conrad 46 Colour 6845 6852 N/A ALSJ
XII 118:28:21 EVA 1 Al's 12 O'Clock LM Pan Bean 47 Colour 6941 6960 N/A ALSJ
Right to Left sequence. Early variant - Lo Res images
XII 118:30:43 EVA 1 Al's 6 O'Clock LM Pan Bean 47 Colour 6961 6981 N/A ALSJ
Right to Left sequence. Early variant - Lo Res images
XII 118:33:10 EVA 1 Al's 4 O'Clock LM Pan Bean 47 Colour 6982 7006 N/A ALSJ
Right to left sequence. Hi-Res version
XII 118:33:10 EVA 1 Mini-pan - Pete at MESA Bean 47 Colour 6987 6990
ALSJ
Sub-panorama of 'Al's 4 O'Clock LM Pan' above. Right to left sequence. Colour alternative also provided.
XII 118:33:10 EVA 1 Mini-pan - Pete at MESA Bean 47 Colour 6984 6992
ALSJ
Sub-panorama of 'Al's 4 O'Clock LM Pan' above. Right to left sequence.
XII 118:33:10 EVA 1 Al's 4 O'Clock LM Pan Bean 47 Colour 6982 7006 N/A LPI
XII 132:12:17 EVA 2 Portrait of Head Crater Conrad 49 Mono 7174 7186 N/A ALSJ
This ALSJ-sourced panorama has been included as a counter-example - it isn't a panorama. Following the sequence from AS12-49-7174 to 7186 shows that the small rock formations in the centre of the left and right halves of the image are the same formation shot from different angles.
XII 132:31:20 EVA 2 Al's Triple Craters Pan Bean 48 Mono 7056 7058
ALSJ
XII 132:31:52 EVA 2 Pete's Head Crater Pan Conrad 49 Mono 7201 7216 N/A ALSJ
XII 132:38:22 EVA 2 Pete's Left-to-Right Bench Crater Partial Pan Conrad 49 Mono 7223 7228 N/A ALSJ
Alternate variant -
XII 132:38:22 EVA 2 Pete's Right-to-Left Bench Crater Partial Pan Conrad 49 Mono 7229 7233 N/A ALSJ
XII 132:53:22 EVA 2 Pete's Sharp Traverse Pan Conrad 49 Mono 7244 7262 N/A ALSJ
XII 132:56:44 EVA 2 Pete's First Sharp Crater Partial Pan Conrad 49 Mono 7263 7269
ALSJ
XII 132:57:33 EVA 2 Sharp Crater Pan 2 Conrad 49 Mono 7270 7275
ALSJ
XII 133:36:44 EVA 2 Al's Halo Crater Pan Bean 49 Mono 7289 7311 N/A ALSJ
XII 133:45:26 EVA 2 Al's Partial Pan of Surveyor Crater Bean 49 Mono 7323 7324 N/A ALSJ
XII 133:59:16 EVA 2 Al's 'Little Lines' Mini Pan Bean 48 Mono 7094 7096 N/A ALSJ
Alternate variant -
XII 134:06:25 EVA 2 Surveyor Scoop Arm Bean 48 Mono 7101 7105 N/A ALSJ
XII 134:07:32 EVA 2 Surveyor Body and Arm (Not ALSJ) Bean 48 Mono 7110 7116 N/A ALSJ
This image is not referenced in the ALSJ. It has been created from a series of "stereo pairs" and other overlapping images, and this, along with Al Bean moving his position, has resulted in some image anomalies (uncorrected). Note that the sequence runs (left to right) 7116->7115->7114->7111->7110.
XII 134:40:09 EVA 2 Al's First Block Crater Partial Pan Bean 48 Mono 7141 7143 N/A ALSJ
XII 134:40:09 EVA 2 Al's Second Block Crater Partial Pan Bean 48 Mono 7144 7147 N/A ALSJ
Hi Res variant

See Also

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Footnotes

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These tables catalogue the panoramic photos captured during the Apollo 12 mission. Those thumbnails in the "Reference Panorama" and "Notes" columns have been included from 'official' NASA resources such as ALSJ and LPI. Entries in the 'Panorama' column have been assembled using panorama-blending software using the High Resolution scans of the original frames held within the "Project Apollo Archive" on Flickr.[7] Where a Reference Panorama is pre-existing, that has been used in preference to creating a new variant, unless there is a additional value to be gained by regenerating it. Apart from some source image masking, all such new variants have been created using the minimum of processing, relying on the software package's inherent blending and optimisation capabilities - typically, such panoramas have been created within 3-5 minutes as they are intended to be 'representations' rather than 'definitive' examples.

All 4-digit image references relate to the last 4 digits of the image names. The full image names follow the format AS12-MM-IIII, where MM relates to the Magazine number and IIII is the identifier.

All tabular data, such as time and image identifiers, has been extracted from the ALSJ. The entries in the 'Location' column relate to the term used for the panorama as listed in the ALSJ's 'Assembled Panoramas' section

References

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  1. ^ "Apollo Lunar Surface Journal". www.nasa.gov.
  2. ^ "Apollo 12 Preliminary Science Report (SP-235)" (PDF).
  3. ^ "Page 113" (PDF).
  4. ^ "Sun Angles". www.nasa.gov.
  5. ^ "Apollo 12 Flight Plan". www.nasa.gov.
  6. ^ "Apollo 12 Image Library". www.nasa.gov.
  7. ^ "Project Apollo Archive". Flickr.