It seems appropriate to me to post an Apollo VIII picture on Christmas Day. It was the first voyage around the Moon--and, to me,--the most significant of the Apollo missions because I knew with absolute certainty that humankind could go to the Moon and come back. For me, the landings were almost anticlimatic, a sort of forgone conclusion, if you will. Even more importantly, that picture of the Earth, looming just above the lunar horizon, made us all see our planet as it truly is: a tiny little lifeboat in the immensity of space. I even wrote a poem about it, which I had planned to post with this picture, comparing Boreman, Lovell, and Anders to the three Magi seeking out the Christ child and how there were probably other Magi who watched them go while wishing they could accompany them too, just as I wished I could have made that epic journey as well. Unfortunately--or fortunately--I could not find my copies of it. So while thoughts of Christmas and the Christ child--the great gift of God to us--still may cross your minds, also keep in mind that other great gift that he gave us: this fragile, beautiful, and bountiful "good Earth." Holiday greetings to all of you and best wishes for a better year to come. Jeremy Credits: Earth: from NASA photo. Apollo Craft: Net freebie. Lunar surface: terrain made in Bryce5 TE from actual color photo. Texture from same, which is why it is not gray looking.