lna17-lkd1_v_bw_o_n (original 1970 press photo2)

“ON THE MOON

SEA OF RAINS, THE MOON: This picture, made from a television program in Moscow, shows the tracks of the Lunokhod 1 moon rover (right) on the surface of the moon. At left is part of the Luna 17 space craft which brought the rover to the moon. In the background is the moon’s horizon and (left-near Luna 17) one of the unidentified apparati that the moon rover has been planting on the moon. This picture, originally received in two parts, was taken by the rover vehicle.”

The semi-linear feature, above the image in the white border of the photograph, is a wrinkle, not unlike what you get when you hurriedly iron a shirt. Fortunately, the image itself is untouched and of high gloss.

The dark cylindrical object is not a part of the Luna 17 spacecraft. When I first saw it, I also thought it was something on the surface. However, at the time, few images from this or any Soviet mission were available, or at least that I was aware of, let alone knowledgeable identification/context of what was in the photograph. In fact, other than the view looking down the unused deployment ramp of Luna 17 (linked to below), this is one of less than probably a handful from this mission that I remember seeing, it being one of the more prevalent.

However, thanks to Don P. Mitchell, at his amazing website, this and other rarely seen/published images - from multiple unmanned Soviet missions - are available…at least for now:

mentallandscape.com/C_CatalogMoon.htm

Specifically:

mentallandscape.com/C_Luna17_Horz24.jpg

Along with a pertinent extract from his site:

“Luna-17 landed on the Moon on November 15, 1970. The robotic rover, Lunokhod-1 rolled off the landing platform to explore the surface of the Moon for about a month. Two cycloramic cameras on either side of the rover were oriented for 180° horizontal panoramas (500 × 3000 pixels). These panoramas are sometimes geometrically warped to correct for the 15° tilt of the camera.

Two other cameras were oriented for 360° vertical panoramas of 500 × 6000 pixels, including images of the sky for star locations. A level indicator was placed below these cameras, with a bull's eye pattern and a small metal ball bearing. This level indicator can be seen as the "dixie cup" in the horizontal pans.”

So, this photograph was taken by one of those 15°-tilted cycloramic cameras, in this case, camera no. 4 on the right-hand side of the rover. The dark (because it’s in shadow) cylindrical (and inverted looking) “dixie cup” is one of the two level indicators affixed to the rover. One can be easily identified in methylbromine’s excellent color photo linked below. It’s directly above the back/far right wheel. Directly to its left, the gold can-like cycloramic camera, mounted at its 15° angle, can be seen. Immediately above the level indicator is the vertical panoramic camera. Images taken by this camera included the top of the level indicator, which is where the referenced bull’s eye pattern & ball bearing can be seen. And in the following excellent such image from the mission, since I see no shadows cast by it, I’m assuming the bull’s eye pattern was incorporated into the surface on which the ball bearing rolled around. I’m also assuming the entire assembly was at the top of the level indicator, that is, not within it. As expected & seen in other photos taken by the vertical panoramic cameras, the circular field of the level indicator had a protective glass cover.
Finally, also visible in the following photograph, the small ball bearing appears to be at the 9:30 position, just over ⅓ of the way out from the center of the “bull’s eye”. As an additional bonus, the ‘embossed’ hammer & sickle is visible on the left of the Luna 17 lander, and the pentagonal raised relief state emblem of the USSR to the right.
I assume China’s Chang'e landers bear something similar…depraved, oppressive, corrupt, Godless & evil government’s think alike:

mentallandscape.com/C_Luna17_Vert00.jpg

I have no idea what the appendage-like thing - at horizon level, immediately adjacent to the right of the level indicator - is. I think it’s what’s referred to in the photograph’s caption as one of the “apparati” planted by Lunokhod. Finally, the light-colored object on the horizon to the right? Possibly Luna 17? Or more likely, a boulder?

A wonderful site, which appears to be comprehensive, although I'll be damned if I could find the posted photo within it:

www.planetology.ru/panoramas/lunokhod1.php?page=20&la...

Taken on: October 10, 2022

Tags:

lunar regolith

Lunik 17

E-8-203

Луноход

Луноход 1

Mare Imbrium

Luna 17

Lunokhod

Lunokhod 1

Lunokhod I

rover tracks

lunar rover

CCCP

USSR

Soviet space program

Soviet spacecraft

space race

space history

lunar boulder

lunar horizon

lunar exploration

lunar surface

glossy photo

black and white « less

Sets appears in: • Breaking The Bonds & Firsts • Miscellaneous Photos & Prints more » • The Godless Enemy: Then, Now & Always « less

Groups appears in: • Space Exploration • B&W more » • OUT OF THIS WORLD • Riding with Robots on the High Frontier « less

Stats: 1,922 views / 5 comments