lna17-lkd1_v_bw_o_n (original 1970 press photo3)
“MOON VIEW
MOON SURFACE: Lunokhod 1, the Soviet moon walking robot, awakened from two weeks of hibernation during the lunar night, has sent back this picture taken Dec. 9th showing its tracks on the surface of the moon. The Tass news agency reported that the eight-wheeled moonmobile landed in the Sea of Rains Nov. 17th. It traveled more than 600 feet from Luna 17, sampling moonsoil and televising its surroundings.”
Thanks to Don P. Mitchell’s amazing website, this and other rarely seen/published images - from multiple unmanned Soviet missions - are available…at least for now:
mentallandscape.com/C_CatalogMoon.htm
Specifically:
mentallandscape.com/C_Luna17_Vert05.jpg
Along with a pertinent extract from his site:
“Luna-17 landed on the Moon on November 15, 1970. The robotic rover, Lunokhod-1 rolled off the landing platform to explore the surface of the Moon for about a month. Two cycloramic cameras on either side of the rover were oriented for 180° horizontal panoramas (500 × 3000 pixels). These panoramas are sometimes geometrically warped to correct for the 15° tilt of the camera.
Two other cameras were oriented for 360° vertical panoramas of 500 × 6000 pixels, including images of the sky for star locations. A level indicator was placed below these cameras, with a bull's eye pattern and a small metal ball bearing. This level indicator can be seen as the "dixie cup" in the horizontal pans.”
So, this photograph was taken by one of the two 360° vertical panoramic cameras, this one on the right-hand side (possibly no. 3) of the rover. The above linked photo of this entire panorama also looks directly down at one of the two “dixie cup” level indicators affixed to the rover. The bull’s eye pattern, which I think was incorporated into the surface on which the ball bearing rolled around is prominent. I’m also assuming the entire assembly was at the top of the level indicator, that is, not within it. As confirmation, sun glare from the transparent, possibly glass cover of the level indicator can be seen. There appear to be two ball bearings visible on the “bull’s eye”, both to the left & slightly upper left of its center. I’m guessing the closer to be the actual, as its circular shape is more defined.
The configuration of the cameras and level indicator are readily identified in methylbromine’s excellent color photo linked below. The level indicator (in this case, on the left-hand side) is directly above the back/far right wheel. Directly to its left, the gold can-like cycloramic camera, mounted at its 15° angle, can be seen. Immediately above the level indicator is the vertical panoramic camera.
An excellent site, which appears to be comprehensive, although I'll be damned if I could find my posted photo within it:
lna17-lkd1_v_bw_o_n (original 1970 press photo3)
“MOON VIEW
MOON SURFACE: Lunokhod 1, the Soviet moon walking robot, awakened from two weeks of hibernation during the lunar night, has sent back this picture taken Dec. 9th showing its tracks on the surface of the moon. The Tass news agency reported that the eight-wheeled moonmobile landed in the Sea of Rains Nov. 17th. It traveled more than 600 feet from Luna 17, sampling moonsoil and televising its surroundings.”
Thanks to Don P. Mitchell’s amazing website, this and other rarely seen/published images - from multiple unmanned Soviet missions - are available…at least for now:
mentallandscape.com/C_CatalogMoon.htm
Specifically:
mentallandscape.com/C_Luna17_Vert05.jpg
Along with a pertinent extract from his site:
“Luna-17 landed on the Moon on November 15, 1970. The robotic rover, Lunokhod-1 rolled off the landing platform to explore the surface of the Moon for about a month. Two cycloramic cameras on either side of the rover were oriented for 180° horizontal panoramas (500 × 3000 pixels). These panoramas are sometimes geometrically warped to correct for the 15° tilt of the camera.
Two other cameras were oriented for 360° vertical panoramas of 500 × 6000 pixels, including images of the sky for star locations. A level indicator was placed below these cameras, with a bull's eye pattern and a small metal ball bearing. This level indicator can be seen as the "dixie cup" in the horizontal pans.”
So, this photograph was taken by one of the two 360° vertical panoramic cameras, this one on the right-hand side (possibly no. 3) of the rover. The above linked photo of this entire panorama also looks directly down at one of the two “dixie cup” level indicators affixed to the rover. The bull’s eye pattern, which I think was incorporated into the surface on which the ball bearing rolled around is prominent. I’m also assuming the entire assembly was at the top of the level indicator, that is, not within it. As confirmation, sun glare from the transparent, possibly glass cover of the level indicator can be seen. There appear to be two ball bearings visible on the “bull’s eye”, both to the left & slightly upper left of its center. I’m guessing the closer to be the actual, as its circular shape is more defined.
The configuration of the cameras and level indicator are readily identified in methylbromine’s excellent color photo linked below. The level indicator (in this case, on the left-hand side) is directly above the back/far right wheel. Directly to its left, the gold can-like cycloramic camera, mounted at its 15° angle, can be seen. Immediately above the level indicator is the vertical panoramic camera.
An excellent site, which appears to be comprehensive, although I'll be damned if I could find my posted photo within it: