Apollo 11 -- 55th Anniversary Weekend!

Hello everyone – 

Space fans everywhere are celebrating a major anniversary this weekend! Here’s Sophie to tell us all about it, followed by some special lunar poems that we selected in honor of the occasion! 😊

Today marks the 55th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 Moon landing, which took place on July 21st, 1969. This momentous event saw NASA astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become the first humans to step foot on the lunar surface, and it marked a significant milestone in human exploration and achievement. The Apollo 11 mission not only demonstrated humanity's ambition and ingenuity, but also opened up new possibilities for space exploration and discovery.

 

“The Moon”

By Sappho (ca. 630-570 BCE)

Translated by Sir Edwin Arnold (1832-1904)

 

The stars about the lovely Moon

Fade back and vanish very soon,

When, round and full, her silver face

Swims into sight, and lights all space.

 

“Eldorado”

By Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)

 

Gaily bedight,

A gallant knight,

In sunshine and in shadow,  

Had journeyed long,  

Singing a song,

In search of Eldorado.

 

But he grew old—

This knight so bold—  

And o’er his heart a shadow—  

Fell as he found

No spot of ground

That looked like Eldorado.

 

And, as his strength  

Failed him at length,

He met a pilgrim shadow—  

 ‘Shadow,’ said he,  

 ‘Where can it be—

This land of Eldorado?’

 

‘Over the Mountains

Of the Moon,

Down the Valley of the Shadow,  

Ride, boldly ride,’

The shade replied,—

‘If you seek for Eldorado!’

 

“The Moon” (From A Child’s Garden of Verses, 1885)

By Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894)

 

The Moon has a face like the clock in the hall;

She shines on thieves on the garden wall,

On streets and fields and harbor quays,

And birdies asleep in the forks of the trees.

 

The squalling cat and the squeaking mouse,

The howling dog by the door of the house,

The bat that lies in bed at noon,

All love to be out by the light of the Moon.

 

But all of the things that belong to the day

Cuddle to sleep to be out of her way;

And flowers and children close their eyes

Till up in the morning the Sun shall arise.

 

“Kind Moon”

By Sara Teasdale (1884-1933)

 

I think the Moon is very kind

To take such trouble just for me.

He came along with me from home

To keep me company.

 

He went as fast as I could run;

I wonder how he crossed the sky?

I'm sure he hasn’t legs and feet

Or any wings to fly.

 

Yet here he is above their roof;

Perhaps he thinks it isn’t right

For me to go so far alone,

Though Mother said I might.

 

Apollo 11 Plaque Inscription

HERE MEN FROM THE PLANET EARTH FIRST SET FOOT UPON THE MOON JULY 1969, A.D.

WE CAME IN PEACE FOR ALL MANKIND.

(Signatures: Armstrong, Collins, Aldrin, Nixon)

 

Until next time – keep looking up! J

Rob & Sophie

 

Urania, the Muse of Astronomy, is standing on her balcony on the night of the full Moon. (Image Credit: Digital artwork created by the Editor.)