A New Vision of Earth

Despite being marked by violence and disillusionment, 1968 ended on an uplifting and hopeful note. In December, Apollo 8 became the first human spaceflight to orbit the moon. The crew was named Time magazine’s “Men of the Year.” In a year filled with so much turmoil, the country welcomed—with a sigh of relief—the tranquil and beautiful “Earthrise” image on Christmas Eve. It would serve not only as an inspiration for the growing environmental movement, but as yet another powerful reminder of a year whose influence would continue to be felt for decades to come.