Connie Moore, NASA Senior Photo Researcher, has shared the agency's imagery with the public for more than 30 years. She is sometimes known as 'Google Girl' for her expertise in finding just about anything from NASA's vast archive. Connie has sourced imagery for books, education, TV, the big screen and the greater public. Here, she talks about NASA’s ten most requested photos during her 30 years of fulfilling photo requests.
Original Seven Astronauts, 1960 (1960) by NASANASA
1960. Seven men are announced as NASA's first group of astronauts.
Connie Moore, NASA photo researcher, says: 'There has always been a debate around the astronauts and their boots. The ones belonging to Deke Sleyton and John Glenn in the front are actually painted silver.'
Apollo 8 Earthrise, 1968 (1968-12-24) by NASANASA
1968. The Earth rises above the lunar horizon, as seen from from the Apollo 8 spacecraft.
Connie: 'Earthrise is incredibly popular. It was taken on December 24th, 1968, and I get calls for this image each year from November onwards from people wishing to use it for gift cards and presents.'
Man on Moon, 1969 (1969) by NASANASA
1969. Astronaut Edwin E. (Buzz) Aldrin Jr. walks on the moon near the Lunar Module.
Connie: 'There is no image more requested than this. For years, people thought it was Neil Armstrong since he was first on the Moon but it is actually Buzz Aldrin. You can see Neil's reflection in the visor.'
Blue Marble - Image of the Earth from Apollo 17 by NASANASA
1972. Earth as seen by the Apollo 17 crew.
Connie: 'People love this image - considered the original Blue Marble - but they’re always asking for one showing the USA. Later images of Earth as a complete sphere have been derived from satellite data.'
Bruce McCandless spacewalk, 1984 (1984) by NASANASA
1984. Bruce McCandless II conducts Extravehicular Activity (EVA), or a space walk, marking the first use of a nitrogen-propelled, hand-controlled device.
Connie: 'This image was so popular because it shows a human untethered and alone in the vast darkness of space.'
Eagle Nebula 'Pillars of Creation' (1995) (1995-04-01) by NASA and Hubble Space TelescopeNASA
1995. The Eagle Nebula. These eerie, dark pillar-like structures are actually columns of cool interstellar hydrogen gas and dust, which act as incubators for new stars.
Connie: 'People see Biblical references in this photo and it is by far the most popular Hubble image in our archives.'
Saturn: "The Day the Earth Smiled" (2013-11-12) by NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science InstituteNASA
2004. The most detailed, natural-colour image of Saturn ever created, captured by the Cassini spacecraft.
Connie: 'People love Saturn, especially the beautiful rings. Although there are great images of Saturn from Voyager, this particular photo really resonates with the public.'
Hubble Ultra Deep Field (2004) (2003-09-24/2004-01-16) by NASA and Hubble Space TelescopeNASA
2009. The Hubble Space Telescope took the deepest image of the universe ever taken, capturing galaxies that formed 600 million years after the Big Bang.
Connie: People are simply amazed by this photo. Each little jewel-like image in it represents a galaxy or nebula. It seems infinite.'
The Blue Marble, 2012 (2012) by NASANASA
2012. A new version of the Blue Marble, made from composite satellite data.
Connie: 'This later satellite image of Earth shows the USA, and has been viewed more than 6 million times on NASA's Flickr account.'
Earth Lights Flat Map, 2012 (2012)NASA
2012. Another composite satellite image of Earth from space, but this time, by night.
Connie: 'This image rivals the Blue Marble photos - we get a lot of requests for it. It is beautiful and remarkable, and shows fascinating details of the planet we call home.'
Curated by Constance Moore, Senior Photo Researcher - NASA Headquarters.
