Happy 4th!
If you are looking for things to do today, New Scientist reviews a series of books about the landing on the moon including these two:
“Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin's autobiography, Magnificent Desolation, leads the field of new releases…Aldrin refutes them all, if with a slight change of emphasis from his first autobiography in 1973, saying that being the "second man" only started to trouble him upon his return. Under standard NASA protocol, Aldrin - the junior crew member - would have been first to leave the lunar module, but Neil Armstrong was chosen to do it.”
“Rick Stroud's The Book of the Moon, a miscellany with attitude that's great for dipping in and out of. Among the many chapters, you'll find "Facts and Figures" for stats fans, "Gods and Myths" for the less rational, and "Astronauts, Cosmonauts and Lunar Exploration" for those who prefer their Aldrins to their Alignaks (Inuit moon god). Did you know the moon has an atmosphere? Not much of one, but it's not the complete vacuum of legend.”
Picture of Buzz Aldrin saluting US flag - credit Wikipedia
I was only 2 years old when the moon landing took place, but I am following the day to day record of it on Twitter with @ApolloPlus40 which is detailing the mission exactly as it happened +40 years. Oh, and following Buzz Aldrin as well(@TheRealBuzz) on his book launch is great.
Posted by: Devan | July 05, 2009 at 07:00 PM