Astronomy Picture of the Day · April 20, 1996

Apollo 17 Lunarscape: A Magnificent Desolation

The Astronomy Picture of the Day for April 20, 1996 is “Apollo 17 Lunarscape: A Magnificent Desolation,” an image. It is credited to Credit: Apollo 17, NASA. The original explanation runs about 101 words.

From the explanation

“Buzz Aldrin , Apollo 11 Lunar Module pilot and the second human to walk on the Moon described the lunar landscape as “a magnificent desolation”. Dramatic pictures from the Apollo missions to the moon’s surface testify to this apt turn of phrase.”

— APOD editors, April 20, 1996

Read the full explanation on science.nasa.gov

At a glance

Date: April 20, 1996
Type: Image
Credit: Credit: Apollo 17, NASA
Copyright: No copyright notice on the entry. Check the credited institution’s own usage rules before reusing it.
Explanation length: About 101 words

All of April 1996 → · 1996 by month → · Full archive since 1995 →

Topics in this entry

The Moon Apollo program

Topics are matched from words in the title and explanation.

On this day: April 20 in other years

On Amazon

Popular picks for space fans

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Electronics Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition 32GB Read astronomy and space-history books anywhere. View on Amazon → Electronics Bose QuietComfort Wireless Headphones Noise-cancelling headphones for documentaries and launch livestreams. View on Amazon →

Source

Astronomy Picture of the Day, April 20, 1996 — science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-1996-april-20-apollo-17-lunarscape-a-magnificent-desolation

Copy taken Oct 28, 2026, 2:39 AM EDT. The image and explanation belong to their creators. OpenOrbit is not affiliated with or endorsed by NASA.