Final answer:
Earthrise is an influential photograph that inspired global awareness and contributed to the surge in environmental activism leading to the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970.
Step-by-step explanation:
Earthrise is an influential photograph taken by astronaut William Anders during the Apollo 8 mission on December 24, 1968. This iconic image shows Earth rising over the moon's horizon and is credited with inspiring feelings of awe and global awareness, strengthening the environmental movement. As public consciousness about environmental issues grew, the first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970, as a teach-in on college campuses and other institutions, amid increasing environmental activism and subsequent environmental protection laws.
The photo's impact on the environmental movement and its role in promoting Earth Day highlights the intersections between environmental protection and public engagement. Due to this far-reaching influence and the visually arresting depiction of our vulnerable planet, Earthrise continues to be remembered as a significant catalyst for environmental activism and policy change that followed in the 1970s.