402. [Apollo 16] THE LM ORION IN THE SUNLIT MOONSCAPE OF DESCARTES Charles Duke, 16-27 April 1972, EVA 3 Printed 1972. Vintage chromogenic print on fibre-based Kodak paper [NASA image AS16-116-18576]. With "A Kodak Paper" watermark on the reverse, numbered "NASA AS16-116-18576" in red in the top margin (issued by NASA Manned Spacecraft Centre, Houston, Texas). 25.4 x 20.3 cm. (10 x 8 in). Historical context "The Moon was the most spectacularly beautiful desert you could ever imagine. Unspoiled. Untouched. It had a vibrancy about it, and the contrast between it and the black sky was so vivid, it just created the impression of excitement and wonder." —Charles Duke (from the 2007 documentary In the Shadow of the Moon) This stunning photograph, part of a panoramic sequence taken by Charles Duke at Descartes Base at the start of the final EVA, captures the stark contrast between the sunlit lunar surface and the deep black sky. Taken from a position west of the Lunar Module Orion's ladder strut (plus-Z in LM coordinates), it highlights the desolate yet awe-inspiring beauty of the Moon, with the LM standing in the frame—a solitary human presence in this vast, untouched landscape. The UV astronomy camera is also visible, positioned to the right of the ladder. In the foreground, the distinctive tracks of the Lunar Rover carve through the regolith, a lasting testament to the astronauts' journey across the rugged terrain. A vertical streak in the image, caused by lunar dust adhering to the camera's reseau plate, stands as an artifact of exploration—evidence of the challenges and realities of working in the harsh lunar environment, rather than a mere imperfection in this pristine record of Apollo's extraordinary journey on the Moon.