The night sky on the night of Apollo 8's Christmas Eve broadcast — 24 December 1968
On Christmas Eve 1968 Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders of Apollo 8 became the first humans to orbit the Moon. That day Anders photographed the Earth rising over the lunar horizon — the picture known as 'Earthrise'. In a television broadcast from lunar orbit the crew read the opening verses of the Book of Genesis to one of the largest audiences in history.
The sky over Mission Control, Houston, Texas, USA
This is the real sky above Mission Control, Houston, Texas, USA (29.56°N, 95.09°W) on 24 December 1968 at 22:00 CST (UTC−6) that night (1968-12-25 04:00 UTC). The Sun was 58° below the horizon: it was full night. The Moon (waxing crescent, 35% lit) was 13° up in the west. Planets above the horizon: Saturn (45° in the south-west). Brightest named stars up: Sirius, Capella, Rigel, Procyon and Betelgeuse.
Make the sky of YOUR date
Every night has its own sky. Pick your city and your date — the night you met, a birth, a wedding — and see the real stars above it, free.
Want this night on your wall? Make a print-ready A3 star-chart poster of 24 December 1968 — 4.99.
All 75 historic night skies · The night sky on your birthday