If it’s been 39 years since we left the Moon… how depressing is that? At least we have photos, I guess.

39 years ago, today, scientist-astronaut Harrison H. Schmitt is photographed standing next to a huge, split lunar boulder during the third Apollo 17 extravehicular activity (EVA) at the Taurus-Littrow landing site. The Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV), which transported Schmitt and Eugene A. Cernan to this extravehicular station from their Lunar Module (LM), is seen in the background. The mosaic is made from two frames from Apollo 17 Hasselblad magazine 140. The two frames were photographed by Cernan.
Image Credit: NASA/Eugene Cernan

This spectacular excessively-sized image shows Apollo 17 lifting off in the first night launch of a Saturn V, on December 7, 1972. (Image via the Project Apollo Archive.) I don’t think I’ve ever watched video footage of a Saturn V launch without palpitating. That thing is colossal — it will always be awe-inspiring to me.

I remember when I was growing up, I firmly believed we’d be going back to the Moon at any moment. Real soon, now. I wish I could go back to that.

Last month the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) launched and made its way to the Moon, and some of the first images it sent back are these delightful shots of the Apollo landing sites. Shown here is the Apollo 14 landing site; below you can see (in an enlarged view) where the astronauts walked to place their instruments. Which I think is pretty darned incredible. Go here to see the rest!