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inverting-vision.bsky.social
Danny Robb
@inverting-vision.bsky.social
460 followers 680 following 93 posts
Writing about the history of science, exploration, and technology. Interested in photography + robotics in planetary science, oceanography, cryosphere.

Regular contributor for JSTOR Daily. Work in Aeon, Atlas Obscura.
History Blog: invertingvision.com
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inverting-vision.bsky.social
Definitely click through and read Isabelle Charmantier's original work on this one, to see more examples. I mention a bat that she points out, and there's a good image of the illustration (with more info) on the @linneansociety.bsky.social blog, here: www.linnean.org/news/2024/06...
A page from Manuscripta Medica by Carl Linnaeus. Below some lines of hand-written text is an illustration of a bat, with wings stretched out. The body of the bat is furry, and it has large ears. The bat's feet are very poorly drawn, but the skeletal structure in the wings is rendered in very neat lines.
May 2, 2025 at 3:25 PM
inverting-vision.bsky.social
Stanford also has a cool article about restoring the data from the missions. It includes these images credited to David Drewry. Here are some pics of the planes/equipment, and a cool shot of Gordon Robin and Stanley Evans.

Source:
sustainability.stanford.edu/news/vintage...
A color photograph showing the right wing of a C130 sitting on the ice in Antarctica. A person stands below one of the two propellers. Some trailers and tents appear in the background, and behind them a mountain looms. A man in a red snow suit and red cap stands on a yellow ladder beneath the wing of a C130. He is looking down on a red clipboard in his right hand. Just above him is a radar antenna mounted to the wing. It looks like a large red square, and two rods hang from it near the center. The poles are capped with metal discs just above the man's head. Two men stand in the snow in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, holding a large sheet of paper together. Gordon Robin is on the left is wearing a green jumpsuit, sunglasses, and no hat. He is pointing to something on the paper. Stanley Evans stands on the right, wearing a brownish sweater, large laced up snow boots, and no hat. He is also wearing oversized sunglasses or snow goggles, and looking at the paper with Robin.
December 22, 2024 at 3:32 PM
inverting-vision.bsky.social
Reminded me of this photo from the Apollo 17 prep. Geologist Farouk El-Baz is on the right, looking at lunar maps with Apollo 17 astronaut Ronald Evans. Robert Overmyer sits across from them on the left.

From NASA: www.nasa.gov/history/alsj...
A photo from the Apollo 17 prep. Geologist Farouk El-Baz is on the right, looking at lunar maps with Apollo 17 astronaut Ronald Evans. Robert Overmyer sits across from them on the left. One large map covers the entire table between them, and curls up on the right of the image. Other documents are strewn across it. El-Baz leans on the table on his left hand, and his right hand holds a pen. His right hand is clearly in motion as he points to something on the map. Evans is leaning on the table, looking intently at the spot, as does Overmyer. To their right, in the foreground of the image, is a lunar globe. On the wall behind them is a large lunar map, with a rectangle inscribed across the equatorial region.
November 24, 2024 at 4:01 PM
inverting-vision.bsky.social
A quote from Carl Sagan's book Broca's Brain. It reads: "In exchange for freedom of inquiry, scientists are obliged to explain their work. If science is considered a closed priesthood, too difficult and arcane for the average person to understand, the dangers of abuse are greater. But if science is a topic of general interest and concern--if both its delights and its social consequences are discussed regularly and competently in the schools, the press, and at the dinner table--we have greatly improved our prospects for leaning how the world really is and for improving both it and us."
November 24, 2024 at 3:20 PM
inverting-vision.bsky.social
Fun fact for your Friday:

While in the Galapagos, Charles Darwin employed a variety of observational techniques. This included...riding the tortoises?

#histsci 🧪
A quote from Charles Darwin's book Voyage of the Beagle. It reads: I was always amused, when overtaking one of these great monsters as it was quietly pacing along, to see how suddenly, the instant I passed, it would draw in its head and legs, and uttering a deep hiss fall to the ground with a heavy sound, as if struck dead. I frequently got on their backs, and then, upon giving a few raps on the hinder part of the shell, they would rise up and walk away; but I found it very difficult to keep my balance."
November 22, 2024 at 10:15 PM
inverting-vision.bsky.social
Mistake I caught when looking back through this thread: Alan Bean is the one *taking* that photograph, not the one jiggling the robot. That's Pete Conrad. Right after Al took that photo, he handed the camera over to Pete, who took this pic of Al.

Source: www.nasa.gov/history/alsj...
A black and white photo of Alan Bean on the lunar surface, standing next to the Surveyor III lander.
November 22, 2024 at 12:55 AM
inverting-vision.bsky.social
Apollo 12 made it to the Surveyor site, and took what I personally believe is the coolest picture in the history of space exploration. In it, astronaut Alan Bean jiggles Surveyor to see how firmly the spacecraft is rooted to the ground. In one image: robotic, human, and scientific exploration. (6/8)
On Apollo 12, astronaut Al Bean stands next to the Surveyor III spacecraft, and reaches out an arm to jiggle the spacecraft. Behind him, sitting perfectly on the moon's horizon against the black sky, stands the Lunar Landing Module Intrepid. Source link: https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/static/history/alsj/a12/AS12-48-7134.jpg
November 21, 2024 at 2:33 AM
inverting-vision.bsky.social
Site selection was controversial. One on hand, it was a known quantity, and geologically distinct from the Apollo 11 site. Engineers were interested in Surveyor. But there was fear of missing the pinpoint landing, and scientists thought the astronauts might get distracted by the robot. (5/8)
Text from the minutes of the Apollo Site Selection Board Meeting of June 3, 1969. It reads: "B. Milwitzky-HQ/MAL, discussed the scientific and technological advantages which would result from the investigation of a Surveyor spacecraft. he noted in particular that the spacecraft can provide engineering information relevant to extended lunar stays, especially to a lunar base. Scientifically Surveyors can increase mission return by allowing a high degree of mission pre-planning of details of surface operations. Milwitzky noted that the following general points can be made for the Surveyors: 1. Examination of spacecraft surface for effect of: a. micrometeoroid eroson b. physical or chemical changes due to solar and cosmic radiation c. effects of many cycles of thermal stress due to lunar day/night temperature extremes." source link: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/documents/apollo-site-selection/Jun-3-1969.pdf Text from the Minutes of the Apollo Site Selection Board Meeting of June 3, 1969. The text reads: A recycle would be available if they were used on conjunction with sites 4, 4R, 5, or 6R. Further discussion on S-III and S-I resulted in a divergence of opinion. Those in favor cited Milwitzky's points while those opposed thought that on one hand failure to get to the Surveyor (highly probable) would look like a mission failure and that on the other hand getting to it and spending time investigating the spacecraft would detract significantly from the science tasks already planned. They further pointed out that S-VII is a..." then it trails off because the guy who screenclipped the PDF didn't bother to erase the irrelevant sentence. Source link: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/documents/apollo-site-selection/Jun-3-1969.pdf
November 21, 2024 at 2:33 AM
inverting-vision.bsky.social
They correlated features to find the precise location where Surveyor III landed. Here, the same craters and rocks are labeled in both images. This provided a lot of great information about the site--which would become the destination for Apollo 12. (4/8)

LOIII image: NASA/Boeing
Surveyor: NASA/LPI
A black and white photograph shows the lunar surface from Lunar Orbiter III. The image is labeled with white text and arrows. Arrows point to craters and rocks labeled A, B, C, and D. These are indicated as "FEATURES SEEN IN SURVEYOR PICTURES." A small diagram of the Surveyor spacecraft is labeled" SURVEYOR III (TO SCALE). Other arrows indicated north, south, east, and west. North is pointing toward the top left of the image. Source link: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19680006256 A black and white photograph from Surveyor III is labeled with dotted circles. In the foreground, a small rocky crater is labeled A. In the middle foreground, a larger crater is labeled B. A large pair of rocks in the middle distance is labeled C. A rocky crater in the distance is labeled D. Source link: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/mapcatalog/Surveyor/press_releases/surveyor_III/
November 21, 2024 at 2:33 AM
inverting-vision.bsky.social
On LOIII, the team took photos of the planned landing site for Surveyor III. After Surveyor III landed, they looked for distinctive features in the images they got back. (3/8)

LOIII Image: NASA/Boeing, from contractor report for LOIII
Surveyor III image: NASA/Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI)
A black and white photograph from the Lunar Orbiter III Boeing contractor report to NASA. It shows the cratered lunar surface, and a small rectangle indicates the planned landing site for Surveyor III. A label underneath the image states: "Figure 3-28b: Position of Surveyor III Landing Shown in Lunar Orbiter Frame M154" Source: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19680006256 A mosaic of black and white images from Surveyor III, looking north on the lunar surface. The horizon of the Moon is visible in the upper part of the image. Below it is a large shallow crater strewn with rocks, There are smaller craters and more rocks in the foreground. A small part of the lander peaks out from an image in the lower center part of the mosaic. Source link: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/mapcatalog/Surveyor/press_releases/surveyor_III/
November 21, 2024 at 2:33 AM
inverting-vision.bsky.social
For the Apollo 12 anniversary, want to share one of my favorite tales of lunar robotics. It ends with one of the most iconic images from Apollo, but it begins with an amazing image in its own right. In February 1967, Lunar Orbiter III captured this image of Surveyor I. 🧵(1/8)
🔭
Credit: NASA/Goddard
A black and white photograph of the lunar surface taken by the Lunar Orbiter III team. In the middle is a red circle indicating the position of Surveyor I. Full credit link: https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/imgcat/html/object_page/lo3_h194_1.html
November 21, 2024 at 2:33 AM
inverting-vision.bsky.social
Here's the full LOV photo. Frame 5076_h3 (from National Archives LOIRP series). The film was developed onboard the spacecraft by pressing it against a strip of Bimat. The big gap is an artifact of this process--best guess is a Bimat "stop line." You can also see "lace" from spotty processing. (3/3)
A black and white photograph from Lunar Orbiter V, frame 5076_h3. It shows heavy cratering on the left side of the image, and more sparse cratering throughout the rest of the image. A vertical black strip splits the image just right of center, and artifact of processing. A curving horizontal scattering of spotty "lace" passes through the image, also an artifact of processing.
November 19, 2024 at 2:23 PM
inverting-vision.bsky.social
Lunar Orbiter photographs were used to find landing sites for Surveyor and Apollo. Apollo 11 landed a little less than two years after that photo was taken. Here's a before-and-after picture. (2/3)
Two black and white images next to each other, each showing the same location on the lunar surface. On the left, there is no lunar landing module. On the right, it appears in the center of the image.
November 19, 2024 at 2:23 PM
inverting-vision.bsky.social
Loved this thread by @spacemarschall.bsky.social showing the location of the Apollo 11 lunar module. Wanted to find the same spot in Lunar Orbiter photographs, for a before/after. Here's the same location as viewed from Lunar Orbiter V on August 12, 1967.

More info in 🧵 (1/3)

From NASA/Ames/LOIRP
A black and white image showing the cratered lunar surface in 1967 from Lunar Orbiter V. A green circle indicates the location where Apollo 11 would land two years later.
November 19, 2024 at 2:23 PM
inverting-vision.bsky.social
One of my favorite Ponting photographs. Love the texture on the pancake ice. Taken March 7, 1911.

From Scott Polar Research Institute's Freeze Frame collection. Reference: P2005/5/1495

#Antarctica #history
A black and white photograph showing seals basking on pancake ice at Cape Evans in Antarctica. Ice cliffs loom over the seals on the left side of the image, and sun glints off the surface of the water on the horizon.
November 18, 2024 at 11:01 PM
inverting-vision.bsky.social
Encountered this dragon in multiple mountaineering books. Peter Hansen's explanation:

"By 1900, the image of the startled man and this feline-reptilian dragon was frequently reproduced in histories of mountaineering as visual shorthand for a narrative of secularization and disenchantment... (1/3)
A black and white illustration showing a man in a hat with his hands up, mouth agape, and a startled expression on his face. He has encountered a dragon in the mountains! The dragon is standing on its hind legs, a long tail curving up behind it. It has a long neck, and it's head looks weirdly like a crazed house cat.
November 18, 2024 at 1:23 PM
inverting-vision.bsky.social
Prepping a lesson, went to look through Robert Hooke's Micrographia for material. Found a cool illustration of snowflakes and ice crystals I hadn't seen before. Start reading and realize that I'm looking at Hooke's urine. Read a little further and he starts tasting it. History is fun! #histsci
A group of illustrations from Robert Hooke's Micrographia, showing Hooke's view of ice formations through a microscope. At the top are a collection of snowflakes, and below are two views of complex crystal structures.
November 13, 2024 at 12:30 AM
inverting-vision.bsky.social
November 12, 2024 at 2:22 PM
inverting-vision.bsky.social
I often return to this idea when I need to renew my sense of purpose. I think that #history and #science are essential to building a positive vision of the future.
A quote from Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan from their book Pale Blue Dot. It reads: "The visions we offer our children shape the future. It matters what those visions are. Often they become self-fulfilling prophecies. Dreams are maps."
November 8, 2024 at 3:28 PM
inverting-vision.bsky.social
As I'm getting started here on Bluesky, figured I would repost some things I've shared on other platforms. I like to boost the work/ideas that inspire me or get me thinking. This passage from historian Michael Robinson made me rethink the relationship between romanticism and science. #histsci
A quote attribute to Michael Robinson from the book Reinterpreting Exploration, edited by Dane Kennedy. The quote reads: "This Romantic embrace of the opaque, the sublime, and the irrational may seem anti-scientific, yet in practice Romanticism inspired new methods of scientific exploration. If one accepts that nature operates in ways both complex and invisible, it is unlikely that science advances merely by recording new species and coastlines. Rather, the scientific explorer seeks truth from understanding the hidden forces that lie beneath the phenomena requiring observations both systematic and comparative in nature. Noe one exemplified this approach better than Alexander von Humboldt..."
October 29, 2024 at 6:25 PM
inverting-vision.bsky.social
It's one of my favorites! Did my master's thesis on Lunar Orbiter, and spent a lot of time with those images. That Fourier method is awesome. You sent me down a new rabbit hole, so thank you!

The Orbiter stripes are neat - they make me imagine the Kodak engineers piecing together 35mm film strips.
Part of a diagram from Boeing's contractor report to NASA on Lunar Orbiter III, showing the final steps in processing of Lunar Orbiter film. 35mm film strips are shown in the first part of the diagram. In the next part, they are placed together underneath a camera. And arrow points from the camera to a final film strip. Another arrow points from the final film strip point to the final step in the process, which reads "To NASA Langley" A full diagram from Boeing's contractor report to NASA on Lunar Orbiter III, showing the steps in producing Lunar Orbiter photographs. The diagram starts with a section labeled "Acquisition," and shows a camera lens, two rolls of film, a scanner, and a flowchart showing how scanned images were transmitted to a Deep Space Instrumentation Facility in the form of electronic signals. The second part of the diagram is labeled "Reconstruction," and shows the steps in which the electronic signals were transformed into images through a receiver and a kinescope. The third part of the diagram is labeled "Reassembly," and shows how 35mm film strips of the images captured from the kinescope were pieced together in the Eastman Kodak Lunar Data Processing Laboratory in Rochester, NY. The final step shows full images of lunar craters being sent to NASA Langley.
October 25, 2024 at 9:59 PM
inverting-vision.bsky.social
Hello Bluesky! I write about the history of science, technology, and exploration. My blog is called Inverting Vision, and I recently started writing regularly for JSTOR Daily.

I'm particularly interested in the history of lunar and planetary science.

#history #science #technology #exploration
One of the first images taken of the Earth from the orbit of the Moon, taken with the Lunar Orbiter spacecraft
October 23, 2024 at 1:42 PM