Thinking Back to 1968

It’s hard to believe it has been forty years since the Apollo astronauts circled the Moon on Christmas Eve 1968. Many of us who were just kids at that point remember the occasion as another exciting step on humanity’s way to exploring space. Anything was possible then… and maybe it still is. That’s what I’d like to think as I gaze at this picture from that exciting time.

A lot has happened since then, not all of it good or pure. People and countries change all the time.

But, through all the years since that night, we HAVE kept their eyes on the sky, using whatever means possible to study the stars and planets and galaxies.  Astronomy and space exploration didn’t begin in 1968; they began when the first humans were able to look up and discern that what they saw “up there” was worth studying and understanding. Throughout centuries of inquiry and interest, we’ve learned a lot about the universe and how it works.  But, there’s still a lot to learn.

This picture reminds me of that thought. I hope it continues to inspire people to look up and ask the big questions about “what’s out there” and “how does it all work?” that are the basis for honest scientific inquiry.