On phenomenology of remote vision: the panoramas of the first lunar probes

An examination of the extensive collection of images produced by the probes sent to the Moon and other planets of the solar system during the last decades allows to recognize some recurring forms and characteristics of distant vision. For this purpose a phenomenological and topological approach proves more useful than an exclusively morphological one. First satellites placed in orbit around the Earth, or first probes sent to the Moon by the Soviets, such as Luna 1 and Luna 2, are not equipped to take pictures but are limited to providing data on their position and little more. American probes of Ranger, Surveyor and Orbiter programs transmit to Earth a large number of images of the Moon, taken mainly in three characteristic ways of space shooting: that of the linear sequence, that of the central panorama and that of the orbital mapping. Panorama has become one of the characteristic forms of distant vision. In particular, panoramas obtained from Surveyors’ photos are the first views of non-terrestrial landscapes, and can be considered as an elaborate anticipation of the most recent terrestrial and non terrestrial panoramas, and in particular those of Mars.