These past few days we have been blessed with a wonderful view of a Super Moon. Did you see it? Big, bright and magically attractive it was. This the most alluring heavenly body I can see but cannot touch.
I never tire of looking up at the Moon. A super, full, half, crescent, waxing, waning moon; any moon phase there is, the magnetic pull is always there to be drawn and gaze up in wonder, then lose yourself to the cosmos.
Yet for every time I look up at the moon, I am convinced I am the only one on Planet Earth looking up at the moon; that precise moment in time. Its just me and you Moon.
Is it because I have grown up as Moon Child? Bad Moon Rising by Credence Clear Water was Number 1 the day I was born. Bad Omen ? I think not. 1969 what a year! The telescope that sat behind the living room sofa was a permanent fixture through my childhood. Where with great excitement to open up, delayed with lots of waiting around for assembly and focusing before you were allowed to look into the view finder. Careful instructions for use were always abandoned and never taught. Great believers in a world of self discovery and "try it all out for yourself" as instructions are for the weak. Being the only owner of a telescope in the A level physics class, with great excitement I was once told to bring it in, so the Physics teacher Mr Butler could "have a go" He didn't get very far he later told me - No instructions!
102:45:47 Aldrin: Mode Control, both Auto. Descent Engine Command Override, Off. Engine Arm, Off.
102:45:57 Duke: We copy you down, Eagle.
102:45:58 Armstrong (onboard): Engine arm is off. (Pause) (Now on voice-activated comm) Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.
102:46:06 Duke: (Momentarily tongue-tied) Roger, Twan...(correcting himself) Tranquility. We copy you on the ground. You got a bunch of guys about to turn blue. We're breathing again. Thanks a lot.
102:46:16 Aldrin: Thank you.
102:46:18 Duke: You're looking good here.
102:46:23 Armstrong: Okay. (To Buzz) Let's get on with it. (To Houston) Okay. We're going to be busy for a minute.
July 20, 1969, 20:18 UCT The First Lunar Landing
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