William Anders, astronaut who took the famous ‘Earthrise’ photo, dies at 90

William A. Anders, the astronaut known for capturing the iconic “Earthrise” photo, has passed away at the age of 90.

Anders tragically lost his life in a plane crash near Roche Harbor, Wash, piloting the small aircraft himself. His son Greg confirmed the heartbreaking news.

A retired major general from the Air Force Reserve, Anders was a major during the historic Apollo 8 mission in 1968. This mission marked the first time humans orbited the moon, allowing Anders to venture beyond Earth’s boundaries.

During the Apollo 8 mission, Anders captured the breathtaking moment of Earth rising over the moon’s horizon on Christmas Eve. His color film photograph, titled “Earthrise,” resonated with the emerging environmental movement, highlighting the Earth’s vulnerability and interconnectedness.

Reflecting on the impact of his iconic photo, Anders remarked in a 2015 interview that it seemed to overshadow the significance of the Apollo 8 mission itself.

“We journeyed all the way to the moon, only to truly discover the beauty and fragility of our own planet,” he mused.