Trinity

Operation Trinity

September 16, 1945 · Nevada Test Site (NTS) · Tower · 20 kt

A nuclear device mounted at the top of a steel or wooden tower and exploded in the atmosphere.

The first nuclear explosion in history took place in New Mexico, at the Alamogordo Test Range.
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Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL)

Printed in 1955

Silver gelatin print

8x10 in (20.3x25.4 cm)

Stamp

Atomic Energy Commission
Reprint 1955

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Press Photo

Printed in 1945

Silver gelatin print

5x7 in (12.7x17.8 cm)

Stamp

↻ Show Verso↺ Show Recto

Press Photo

Printed in 1945

Silver gelatin print

5x7 in (12.7x17.8 cm)

Stamp

↻ Show Verso↺ Show Recto

Press Photo

Printed in 1945

Silver gelatin print

5x7 in (12.7x17.8 cm)

Stamp

The first nuclear explosion in history took place in New Mexico, at the Alamogordo Test Range. The origin of the name Trinity for this event is uncertain. It is commonly thought that Robert Oppenheimer provided the name, which would seem logical, but even this is not definitely known. A leading theory is that Oppenhimer did select it, and that he did so with reference to the divine Hindu trinity of Brahma (the Creator), Vishnu (the Preserver), and Shiva (the Destroyer).