What is notable about Apollo 17?

It was the last crewed Moon mission

Why is it called the Blue Marble?

Earth looks like a glass marble

Blue Marble Quiz: Apollo 17's Full View of Planet Earth

This blue marble quiz holds the whole Earth in one frame. Play 10 interactive questions on Apollo 17, the last crewed mission to the Moon, astronauts Gene Cernan, Ronald Evans and Harrison Schmitt, the photo taken on 7 December 1972, the Sun behind the spacecraft lighting the full disk, Africa and Antarctica in view, a Hasselblad camera and its fame as one of the most reproduced images.

Start Blue Marble Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Mission
Which mission took the Blue Marble photo?
Last
What is notable about Apollo 17?
Crew
Who were the Apollo 17 astronauts?
Date
When was the photo taken?
Lit
Why is Earth fully lit in the image?
Africa
Which continent is clearly visible?
Ice
Which polar region appears at the bottom?
Camera
Which camera brand was used?
Name
Why is it called the Blue Marble?
Fame
What is the photo known as?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Which mission took the Blue Marble photo?
Answer: Apollo 17
In December 1972.
Q2: What is notable about Apollo 17?
Answer: It was the last crewed Moon mission
So far.
Q3: Who were the Apollo 17 astronauts?
Answer: Gene Cernan, Ronald Evans and Harrison Schmitt
Three men.
Q4: When was the photo taken?
Answer: 7 December 1972
Shortly after launch.
Q5: Why is Earth fully lit in the image?
Answer: The Sun was behind the spacecraft
A rare alignment.
Q6: Which continent is clearly visible?
Answer: Africa
With Arabia.
Q7: Which polar region appears at the bottom?
Answer: Antarctica
The southern ice cap.
Q8: Which camera brand was used?
Answer: Hasselblad
With an 80 mm lens.
Q9: Why is it called the Blue Marble?
Answer: Earth looks like a glass marble
Round and blue.
Q10: What is the photo known as?
Answer: One of the most reproduced images ever
Seen worldwide.

The Whole Earth in One Frame

On 7 December 1972, shortly after launch, the crew of Apollo 17, Gene Cernan, Ronald Evans and Harrison Schmitt, photographed Earth from space. Apollo 17 was the last crewed mission to the Moon.

Because the Sun was behind the spacecraft, Earth appeared fully lit, a rare alignment. Africa and the Arabian Peninsula are clearly visible, with the Antarctic ice cap at the bottom. The image was taken with a Hasselblad camera and an 80 mm lens.

Earth looked like a glass marble, giving the photo its name. The Blue Marble became one of the most reproduced images ever and a symbol of the planet's beauty and fragility.

What This Quiz Teaches

Space fans will enjoy these questions.

Which mission took it
Who the crew were
Why Earth is fully lit
What it shows
Why it is famous

Did You Know?

NASA later made Blue Marble satellite composites.
Schmitt was a geologist.
Cernan was the last person on the Moon so far.
The original image was rotated for display.
It has appeared on countless posters.