Latest news with #MoonLanding
Free Malaysia Today
22-07-2025
- Science
- Free Malaysia Today
Pope calls Buzz Aldrin to mark 1969 moon landing
Pope Leo XIV leaves St Pancras Cathedral after celebrating a Mass in Albano Laziale. (AP pic) CASTEL GANDOLFO : Pope Leo XIV on Sunday called astronaut Buzz Aldrin and visited the Vatican's astronomical observatory in Castel Gandolfo to mark the 56th anniversary of man's first moon landing. 'This evening, 56 years after the Apollo 11 moon landing, I spoke with the astronaut Buzz Aldrin,' the American pope wrote on X. 'Together we shared the memory of a historic feat, a testimony to human ingenuity, and we reflected on the mystery and greatness of Creation,' he wrote. After Neil Armstrong, who died in 2012, Aldrin was the second person to set foot on the Moon on the historic Apollo 11 mission that secured the US victory in the space race. A devout Christian, Aldrin took communion on the lunar surface using a travel kit provided by his Presbyterian pastor. The pope said he blessed the 95-year-old US astronaut and his family during the call. Earlier Sunday, Leo visited the Vatican Observatory, which sits on a leafy hilltop near the papal summer home of Castel Gandolfo. Vatican photographs showed the pope looking through a large telescope in the observatory, one of the oldest astronomical research institutions in the world, where planetary scientists mix the study of meteorites with theology.
Fox News
21-07-2025
- Science
- Fox News
Buzz Aldrin commemorates Apollo 11 moon landing milestone on 56th anniversary with heartfelt message
Legendary astronaut Edwin Eugene "Buzz" Aldrin Jr. shared a heartfelt message on the 56th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, recalling the historic moment when the lunar module Eagle landed at Tranquility Base. The 95-year-old, who in 1969 walked on the Moon behind mission commander Neil Armstrong, reminisced about the iconic moment they shared while Michael Collins orbited above in the command module. "July 20, 1969. "Contact light, engine stop." The Apollo 11 lunar module Eagle touched down at Tranquility Base on the Moon. A few hours later, Neil Armstrong and I stepped foot on the Moon, with Michael Collins orbiting close-by," Aldrin wrote in a post on X. Aldrin emphasized that this monumental achievement stemmed from years of relentless effort, unwavering dedication, and the teamwork of hundreds of thousands. "An achievement resulting from years of incalculable effort, commitment, and team work." Aldrin invoked President John F. Kennedy's powerful challenge to reach the Moon and see Kennedy's "words become reality." "We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win, and the others too," Aldrin wrote, sharing Kennedy's speech he had given at Rice University in September 1962. The speech, delivered to inspire national unity and ambition, set the stage for achieving the decade's most audacious goal. "Well, space is there, and we're going to climb it, and the Moon and the planets are there, and new hopes for knowledge and peace are there. And, therefore, as we set sail we ask God's blessing on the most hazardous and dangerous and greatest adventure on which man has ever embarked," Kennedy's speech concluded, according to the JFK Library. Aldrin closed with a message of pride and gratitude, honoring all who made the mission possible and extending his blessings to the United States and all of humanity. "I couldn't be prouder to have completed this mission with the hundreds of thousands of people that helped get us to the moon and back home. God bless the USA and all of humankind," Aldrin wrote. Aldrin also shared that Pope Leo XIV spoke with him and his wife, expressing how special the moment was. "Anca and I were grateful and touched to receive the highest blessing today, from His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV on the 56th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing," Aldrin wrote. "What an honor! We prayed for good health, long life, and prosperity for all humankind." The Apollo 11 mission was the first in human history to land men on earth's satellite, fulfilling a dream as old as humanity itself. Armstrong was the first astronaut to step on the lunar surface at 9:56 p.m. ET on July 20, 1969. He was followed 19 minutes later by Aldrin. Aldrin is the only one of the three astronauts on the Apollo 11 mission still alive today. Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to
Fox News
20-07-2025
- Science
- Fox News
Buzz Aldrin commemorates Apollo 11 moon landing milestone on 55th anniversary with heartfelt message
Legendary astronaut Edwin Eugene "Buzz" Aldrin Jr. shared a heartfelt message on the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, recalling the historic moment when the lunar module Eagle landed at Tranquility Base. The 95-year-old, who in 1969 walked on the Moon behind mission commander Neil Armstrong, reminisced about the iconic moment they shared while Michael Collins orbited above in the command module. "July 20, 1969. "Contact light, engine stop." The Apollo 11 lunar module Eagle touched down at Tranquility Base on the Moon. A few hours later, Neil Armstrong and I stepped foot on the Moon, with Michael Collins orbiting close-by," Aldrin wrote in a post on X. Aldrin emphasized that this monumental achievement stemmed from years of relentless effort, unwavering dedication, and the teamwork of hundreds of thousands. "An achievement resulting from years of incalculable effort, commitment, and team work." Aldrin invoked President John F. Kennedy's powerful challenge to reach the Moon and see Kennedy's "words become reality." "We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win, and the others too," Aldrin wrote, sharing Kennedy's speech he had given at Rice University in September 1962. The speech, delivered to inspire national unity and ambition, set the stage for achieving the decade's most audacious goal. "Well, space is there, and we're going to climb it, and the Moon and the planets are there, and new hopes for knowledge and peace are there. And, therefore, as we set sail we ask God's blessing on the most hazardous and dangerous and greatest adventure on which man has ever embarked," Kennedy's speech concluded, according to the JFK Library. Aldrin closed with a message of pride and gratitude, honoring all who made the mission possible and extending his blessings to the United States and all of humanity. "I couldn't be prouder to have completed this mission with the hundreds of thousands of people that helped get us to the moon and back home. God bless the USA and all of humankind," Aldrin wrote. The Apollo 11 mission was the first in human history to land men on earth's satellite, fulfilling a dream as old as humanity itself. Armstrong was the first astronaut to step on the lunar surface at 9:56 p.m. ET on July 20, 1969. He was followed 19 minutes later by Aldrin. Aldrin is the only one of the three astronauts on the Apollo 11 mission still alive today. Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Discover where the Eagle might have landed: How to find Apollo 11's backup sites on the moon
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong announced his historic arrival on the ancient lava plain of Mare Tranquillitatis with the following message to NASA: "Houston, Tranquility Base here, the Eagle has landed." Armstrong's words, spoken less than seven hours before he and fellow NASA astronaut Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin took humanity's first steps on the surface of another world, marked a watershed moment in human history. However, the now famous phrase could easily have been uttered from the opposite side of the lunar disk from Tranquility Base. In February 1968, NASA's Apollo Site Selection Board revealed five potential landing sites for Apollo 11 — whittled down from a list of 30 — including two that were on the opposite side of the lunar disk from Tranquility base, in Oceanus Procellarum (the Ocean of Storms). Each of the 3-by-5-mile (5-by-8-kilometer) landing zones were subject to intensive orbital imaging and were ultimately selected based on a number of diverse criteria. For example, each site had to be located within 5 degrees of the lunar equator in order to expend the least amount of fuel and have no large hills or deep craters along the lander's approach, which could have confused its landing radar. Each site also had to have a slope of less than 2 degrees, with relatively few craters and excellent lighting during the selected landing windows. Site 2 in the Sea of Tranquility was eventually selected as the prime landing site, while two of the remaining shortlisted zones were designated as contingency landing zones to be targeted should the launch of Apollo 11's gigantic Saturn V rocket be delayed. Read on to discover the locations of the five landing zones considered as the setting for humanity's first steps on another world. The general lunar region containing each site can be found easily with the naked eye during the correct moon phases, but we've also included a more precise map for those observing the moon through a telescope. A 6-inch scope will allow you to spot the larger craters needed to hone in on the locations of the candidate sites. Happy hunting! Candidate Site 1 —Mare Tranquillitatis (34° East, 2°40" North) The first shortlisted site for the Apollo 11 landing can be found on the southern shore of the Sea of Tranquility and is best viewed as the moon approaches its first quarter moon phase, or during the full moon, when the entirety of the lunar surface is lit from the perspective of Earth. First, locate the dark expanse of the Sea of Tranquility (Mare Tranquillitatis) located slightly above the lunar equator in the eastern region of the lunar surface. If you struggle, simply take a look at the graphic below! This lunar feature is an enormous basaltic plain, which formed billions of years ago when lava flows flooded gigantic impact basins, before hardening in the frigid space environment. The Sea of Tranquility is large enough to be seen easily with the unaided eye. Using a telescope, you can also locate the prominent Maskelyne Crater (shown below) and draw an imaginary line east until you hit a brighter patch of terrain jutting up from the south. Apollo 11's first candidate landing zone can be found in the patch of lunar mare bordering this outcrop to the east. Candidate Site 2 —Tranquility Base (23°37" East, 0°45" North) Tranquility Base, the site of Apollo 11's historic 1969 landing — can be found to the southwest of the Sea of Tranquility and, like its predecessor, is best viewed in the buildup to the first quarter and full moon phases. For a closer look, first find the tightly clustered Ritter and Sabine craters on the western edge of the lunar sea. Next, draw an imaginary line three times the width of the Sabine Crater from the lower edge of the impact site leading to the right. This will give you the approximate location of humanity's first footprints on another world. Candidate Site 3 —Sinus Medii (1°20" West, 0°25" North) Our third Apollo 11's landing site candidate is situated in the Sinus Medii region smack in the center of the Earth-facing lunar surface. The region containing the landing zone is almost equidistant between the northern edge of Ptolemaeus, and the smaller Ukert crater to the north is best viewed during the weeks straddling a full moon. Sinus Medii would have been the site of the Apollo 11 landing had the mission's Saturn V launch been delayed by just two days from its historic date of July 16, 1969 to July 18. Candidate Sites 4 & 5 —Oceanus Procellarum (36°25" West, 3°30" South, 41°40" West, 1°40" North) Oceanus Procellarum plays host to the final two Apollo 11 landing zones considered in the runup to the historic mission, which are best viewed during the moon's third quarter, or full moon phases. Both can be found below the bright impact ejecta thrown out in the creation of the Kepler Crater to the north and to the right of the Flamsteep P formation. Had the Apollo 11 Saturn V launch slipped to July 21 1969, then humanity's first steps on the moon would have been left in the regolith coating Oceanus Procellarum instead. 'Procellarum Base' just doesn't have the same ring to it, does it. Editor's Note: If you capture the site of Apollo 11's shortlisted landing sites and want to share them with readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@ Solve the daily Crossword
CNN
20-07-2025
- Science
- CNN
One Small Step for Man, One Giant Leap for Timekeeping
Time ticks differently on the Moon. 56 years after the Apollo 11 landing, CNN's Boris Sanchez explores how NASA and its partners are developing a new way to measure time in space.
