Who is in the famous Apollo 11 photograph?

Buzz Aldrin. Neil Armstrong took it, and he can be seen reflected in Aldrin's visor along with the lunar module.

Why are there so few photographs of Armstrong on the Moon?

Armstrong carried the Hasselblad for most of the moonwalk, so he was behind the camera; Aldrin took only a few frames of him.

Is the NASA photograph free to use?

Yes. NASA images are public domain as US government works. The only restriction is that they may not be used to suggest NASA endorsement.

What formats are offered?

A square paper print (A4-width, listed as 8 by 12, and 12 by 18) unframed or framed, and a 300 DPI digital download file.

Home › Reference › Buzz Aldrin on the Moon, Apollo 11 (1969)

Photograph · Neil Armstrong, NASA · 20 July 1969

Buzz Aldrin on the Moon, Apollo 11 (1969)

This is NASA photograph AS11-40-5903: Buzz Aldrin standing on the Moon at Tranquility Base on 20 July 1969, taken by Neil Armstrong with the crew's Hasselblad camera, with Armstrong and the lunar module reflected in Aldrin's visor. As a NASA image it is in the public domain.

Buzz Aldrin standing on the Moon during Apollo 11, his gold visor reflecting Neil Armstrong and the lunar module, boot prints in the grey dust — Neil Armstrong, NASA, 20 July 1969. Source: NASA (image AS11-40-5903).

History

Apollo 11 landed on the Sea of Tranquility on 20 July 1969; Armstrong and Aldrin spent about two and a half hours outside the lunar module Eagle. Armstrong carried the only camera for most of the moonwalk, which is why nearly all the good photographs show Aldrin. This frame, taken near the end of the walk, became the defining still image of the landing.

The original is a square 70 mm transparency; NASA has published the full-resolution scan and it has been reproduced on magazine covers, stamps and posters ever since. The faint reflection in the visor, Armstrong at the camera with the lander and the flag behind him, is the only clear image of Armstrong on the surface.

What the print shows

Aldrin in his white suit, facing the camera, his gold visor reflecting Armstrong, the Eagle's leg and the grey plain; his boot prints and the lander's shadow run across the dust in the foreground, and the horizon is a black sky. The print keeps the square format of the original frame. The image is reproduced from the high-resolution NASA scan and the colour is as published.

Source and licence

Source: NASA (image AS11-40-5903).

Licence: Public domain. NASA photographs are works of the US government and are not copyrighted; NASA asks only that its images not be used to imply endorsement.

Also sold as a 300 DPI digital download, and included in the Vintage Masterpieces download set.

Available sizes and prices

Print: paper or framed Etsy listing 4548754893

Size	Paper	Framed
8 × 12 in (21 × 30 cm)	$29.99	$98.99
12 × 18 in (30 × 45 cm)	$44.99	$137.99

Digital download Etsy listing 4557522191

$5.99: 300 DPI files on your Etsy downloads page the moment payment clears; nothing is shipped.

Printed to order, shipped in 2–5 business days, free US shipping. Paper: matte fine-art paper. Framed: real wood (black, white, wood, dark wood), shatterproof acrylic, ready to hang.

Buy

Apollo 11 Moon Landing 1969 (print: paper or framed): buy on Etsy, from $29.99.
Apollo 11 Moon Landing 1969 (digital download): buy on Etsy, $5.99.
Also in the Vintage Masterpieces Set of 8 download set, $17.99.

Frequently asked questions

Who is in the famous Apollo 11 photograph?: Buzz Aldrin. Neil Armstrong took it, and he can be seen reflected in Aldrin's visor along with the lunar module.
Why are there so few photographs of Armstrong on the Moon?: Armstrong carried the Hasselblad for most of the moonwalk, so he was behind the camera; Aldrin took only a few frames of him.
Is the NASA photograph free to use?: Yes. NASA images are public domain as US government works. The only restriction is that they may not be used to suggest NASA endorsement.
What formats are offered?: A square paper print (A4-width, listed as 8 by 12, and 12 by 18) unframed or framed, and a 300 DPI digital download file.

Sources

NASA (image AS11-40-5903)

Published 20 Oct 2026; prices are the live Etsy prices as of 20 Oct 2026. The work is public domain; this page's text is © ThinkDotCo and may be quoted with a link.