First Earthrise

Above is the first image of Earth from the distance of the Moon, taken by Lunar Orbiter 1 on August 23, 1966 (2008 reprocessed version).  And to think that just a couple years later, Bill Anders would take his famous shot during the Apollo 8 mission.

There was another lunar event on this date, just a few years back:

Why India Celebrates National Space Day on August 23

India celebrates National Space Day on August 23rd to honor the historic success of Chandrayaan-3—India's third lunar mission—which successfully soft-landed on the Moon's south pole on August 23, 2023. This achievement made India the first country to reach the Moon’s south pole, and only the fourth country ever to achieve a soft lunar landing (after the US, USSR/Russia, and China).

Prime Minister Narender Modi’s Official Statement:

“From now onwards, 23rd August will be celebrated as National Space Day in India. This will inspire generations to come.”

The more the merrier...