The Earth during the last voyage to the Moon, almost half way from Earth, 7-19 December 1972

Vintage chromogenic print on fiber-based paper, printed 1972, numbered "NASA AS17-148-22737" (NASA MSC) in red in top margin, with "A KODAK PAPER" watermark on verso, 25,4 x 20,3 cm

This fantastic view of the Earth, centered on the Pacific Ocean and showing Australia (left) and Antarctica (bottom), was taken by Harrison Schmitt through the 250mm telephoto lens as the crew was about 166,000 km away from home on the way to the Moon.

“That lonesome, marbled bit of blue with ancient seas and continental rafts is our planet, our home as men travel the solar system. The challenge for all of us is to guard and protect that home, together, as people of Earth.”
Harrison Schmitt (NASA SP-350, p. 266).

From the mission transcript when the photograph was taken:
021:03:21: Public Affairs Officer (Mission Control): …Very little activity is scheduled in the Flight Plan between now and the time the crew begins it's rest period. This day aboard the spacecraft has been planned as a relatively short one recognizing that the crew would not get a great deal of sleep on that very long - as a result of the very long launch day. And a relatively short sleep period following. [...]
021:10:18 Schmitt: Bob, you with me?
021:10:24 Overmyer: Roger. We wouldn't go away, Jack. We're listening. Did you call?
021:10:29 Schmitt: Well, I just - Yes, I almost lost a pass here, and just a couple more words about Australia. As a - as a general landmass, it's red. Very strong red hues, except for the north and eastern coasts, where that red gradually merges into a greenish-gray. It's as - as red as portions of - of northern Africa appeared to be yesterday.
021:11:12 Overmyer: Roger.
021:11:13 Schmitt: Very striking color. It would be more of an orange-red, really, with brown subduing it. It's not - obviously not crimson or anything like that.