Public Invited to Celebrate 40th Anniversary of Moon Landing
Buzz Aldrin, with Neil Armstrong reflected on the helmet. Neil Armstrong has moved to the MESA. No other Apollo photograph has been reproduced as often as this portrait of Buzz. Neil is, of course, visible in reflection on Buzz's visor. Buzz has his left arm raised and is probably reading the checklist sewn on the wrist cover of his glove, which is shown in a detail. He is moving his right foot forward, as can be seen by the mound of dirt building up in front of the toe of that boot. Note the dirt adhering to Buzz's boots and knees. Otherwise, he is remarkably clean.
Eagle is approaching the Command Module during rendezvous. The LM hatch is pointed toward us and the Ascent Engine is pointed up and to the left.
Buzz Aldrin made this footprint on a pristine surface so that he could then photograph it for study by soil mechanics experts.
To commemorate the anniversary, the UA is hosting a public celebration, featuring lectures, children's activities, solar telescope viewing and opportunities to meet UA science luminaries.
July 20 marks the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11's arrival on the moon, an achievement with several ties to The University of Arizona.
To commemorate the "giant leap for mankind," the UA's Lunar Planetary Laboratory is hosting a public celebration of Apollo 11's landing on the moon – featuring lectures, children's science activities, solar telescope viewing, movie screenings and opportunities to meet UA science luminaries who contributed to numerous Apollo missions.
The celebration takes place Saturday, July 18, from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Kuiper Space Sciences Building on the UA campus.
Three UA scientists involved in Apollo missions will be on hand and available to speak with visitors:
- Ewen Whitaker, who had a key role in conducting photo analysis to determine the lunar landing site for the Apollo 12 mission.
- Bob Strom, a member of the Lunar Operations Working Group for the Apollo 8, 10 and 11 missions, who most recently was called back to service to help with NASA's MESSENGER mission to Mercury.
- Spencer Titley, a retired professor of geosciences who was involved in regional mapping of the moon and mapping of the landing sites for the Ranger, Apollo 16 and Apollo 17 missions.
Strom also will be the featured speaker, delivering a lecture, "40th Anniversary of Apollo 11 Lunar Landing," at 7 p.m.
Other activities include:
Children's Programming
Physics Factory, a program that combines hands-on learning with eye-popping stage shows and aims to share the excitement of physics with K-12 students, teachers and the public. (Kuiper 330, 2-5 p.m.)
The National Optical Astronomy Observatory will host four moon-based children's activities:
- "How High Can You Jump on the Moon"
- "How Big is the Moon Compared to the Earth"
- Can You Place Moon Images in Order?"
- Draw What You See in the Face of the Moon"
(Kuiper 351, 2-5 p.m.)
Liquid nitrogen ice cream (Kuiper 4th floor atrium, 2-5 p.m.)
Story time with the Tucson Space Society (Kuiper 450, 2:30-3:30 p.m.)
Lectures
Shane Burne, assistant professor of planetary sciences, "Origin and Geology of the Moon," (Kuiper 308, 2:30-3 p.m.)
J. Terry White, White Eagle Aerospace, "Apollo Remembered," (Kuiper 308, 3:30-5 p.m.)
James V. Scotti, senior research scientist at the UA's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, "Where did Neil Armstrong leave his backpack?'' (Kuiper 308, 6-6:50 p.m.)
Robert G. Strom, professor emeritus at the UA's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, "40th Anniversary of Apollo 11 Lunar Landing,'' (Kuiper 308, 7-7:50 p.m.)
Telescope Viewing
The Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will place telescopes on the UA Mall for guests to observe the sun and the moon (UA Mall, 2-8 p.m., weather permitting)
Movies
"In the Mountains of the Moon," based on footage from Apollo 15. (Kuiper 312, 2-5 p.m.)
Displays
Lunar meteorites, Apollo memorabilia and 3D images from the Apollo missions will be on display, along with an Apollo Saturn V rocket, which was a gift to Gerard Kuiper – the founder of the UA Lunar and Planetary Laboratory – from Werner von Braun, who was one of the most important rocket developers of the 20th century. (Kuiper Atrium, 2-8 p.m.)
Q&A with UA Scientists
- Ewen Whitaker, associate research scientist emeritus
- Spencer R. Titley, professor emeritus of geosciences
- Shane Byrne, assistant professor, UA Lunar and Planetary Laboratory and department of planetary sciences
- Dolores Hill, senior research specialist, UA Lunar and Planetary Laboratory
- Rik Hill, senior research specialist, UA Lunar and Planetary Laboratory
(Kuiper Atrium, 2-5 p.m.)
Organizations supporting the event include:
- Aerolite Meteorites
- Flandrau: The UA Science Center
- International Dark-Sky Association
- Jack Schrader
- NOAO: National Optical Astronomy Observatory
- Physics Factory
- Raytheon
- SEDS: Students for the Exploration and Development of Space
- Tucson Amateur Astronomers Association
- Tucson Space Society
The event is sponsored by the Arizona Daily Star.
All events are free and open to the public and free parking is available in the Cherry Street Garage and other surface lots on the UA campus.
Et Cetera
- What | Celebration of 40th Anniversary of Moon Landing
- When | July 18, 2-8 p.m.
- Where | Kuiper Space Sciences Building, 1629 E. University Blvd.
- Extra Info For more information and an updated event agenda visit the LPL Web site.
- Contact Info
Maria Schuchardt
520-621-4861
