Moon Day is observed annually on July 20 and commemorates the day man first walked on the moon in 1969. This event was reported by NASA as being “… the single greatest technological achievement of all time…”
James J. Mullaney, former Curator of Exhibits and Astronomy at Pittsburgh’s original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science and Staff Astronomer at the Allegheny Observatory, says: “If there’s a Columbus Day on the calendar, there certainly should be a Moon Day!” Mr. Mullaney has been working toward making National Moon Day an official Federal holiday. Until that happens, National Moon Day will stay on our calendar as an “unofficial” National holiday.
On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 landed the first humans, Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, on the moon. Armstrong was the first to step onto the lunar surface, six hours after landing and spent two and a half hours outside the spacecraft. Aldrin spent slightly less time but together they collected 47.5 pounds of lunar material to bring back to Earth. Michael Collins was the pilot of the spacecraft and remained alone in orbit until Armstrong and Aldrin returned.
Watched by millions, the event was broadcast on live TV to a world-wide audience and all witnessed as Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface and described the event as “one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.”
Happy Moon Day….
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