Met Apollo amateur astronomer

Ian Bennie · #1 14-01-2006, 11:11 AM

Hi everyone,

hey, had to share this. Was showing my collection of Apollo astronaut signed photos to a friend recently, while showing them some of the lunar landing sites through my 90mm refractor.

They were really enjoying the view, it was their first time and they were buzzing!

I pointed out that the Apollo 16 Commander, John Young, was an avid amateur astronomer himself and in fact became the 1st human to look through an astronomical telescope on the moon.

He took special photos of magnetic fields surrounding the Earth, the Large Magellanic Cloud and quite a few other objects.

He visited Sydney in 1994 and I got to meet him. A great man and a true Gentleman.

My friend pointed out that he would've been a bit like Gallileo, being the 1st human to look through a telescope - but on another world.

And I suddenly thought - hey yeah ! That's right !

And I met him and have an autographed photo! Wow......now I'm buzzing.

Young explored the Descarte Highlands area.....which is sort of near the crater Theophilus and he set the lunar land speed record in the lunar rover, which still stands today (about 15 kms an hour).

He is still alive and still totally loves anything about space.......a bit like me.

cheers

Ian

ving (David) · #2 14-01-2006, 11:23 AM

very nice story

i wonder what it would be like doing astor pics thru you average amateur scope on the moon? there would probably no problems with seeing and i doubt transparency would be a problem... the dark side would offer fantastic views i think, but there'd be nothing quite like viewing earth from the moon

atalas · #3 14-01-2006, 11:28 AM

Great story Ian ! thanks for sharing with us .

venus (Lydia) · #4 14-01-2006, 11:32 AM

Hi Ian, that's truly amazing meeting one of the brave Apollo astronauts.
I just read that when the Apollo 12 astronauts landed on the moon, the impact caused the Moon's surface to vibrate for 55 minutes.
I met Harrison Scmidtt with the Newcastle Space Frontier Society when he came to Australia a few years ago and that was amazing too. Harrison was a 'rock scientist' the only geologist and one of last men to step on the Moon.

davidpretorius · #5 14-01-2006, 12:12 PM

thank you!

33South (Chris) · #6 14-01-2006, 01:58 PM

Good one Ian, thanks for sharing the story.

Seeing the first moon landing on 'live' on TV is etched in my mind forever.

(It also helps me remember when I got married - it was the same year)

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #7 14-01-2006, 04:28 PM

Bit of History in your pocket Ian, good one! Thanks for sharing the story.

Glenn Dawes · #8 14-01-2006, 10:33 PM

Ian,

I too really appreciate your story for I have been an Apollo fan all my life. There was something inspirational about what NASA achieved in those days (and not just because I can remember seeing Armstrong set foot on the Moon when I was only 12 years old). It leaves me angry when I hear about the people who profit by pushing the Moon hoax thing (I'm sorry Aldrin didn't break that guy's jaw when he decked him!)

I recently purchased a book called Moondust. Basically the author set out to interview all the Apollo moonwalkers after he realised that of the 12 that walked, there were only 9 still alive. He mentioned there may come a time when there is nobody left alive that has walked on the Moon (the way NASA is going that might be true) - I find that a sobering thought. I've only read a few pages so far so am not necessarily recommending it but it did bring back happy memories.

Regards

Glenn D

h0ughy (David) · #9 14-01-2006, 10:36 PM

Wow what a wonderful story! Thanks Ian for sharing

mickoking · #10 14-01-2006, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33South

Good one Ian, thanks for sharing the story.

Seeing the first moon landing on 'live' on TV is etched in my mind forever.

(It also helps me remember when I got married - it was the same year)

Same year I was born

seeker372011 (Narayan) · #11 14-01-2006, 11:13 PM

great story Ian

narayan

gaa_ian (Ian) · #12 14-01-2006, 11:25 PM

Great story Ian ...
I too remember the moon landing, It is among my earliest memories !
I hope I get to see the day when we return to the moon.

Ian Bennie · #13 15-01-2006, 11:36 PM

Fantastic to find so many Apollo fans. Just a note, IMAX's 'Magnificent Desolation' is, I feel, the ultimate visual Apollo experience.

I've seen everything on the Apollo missions and this still blew me away.

In 3D, YOU get to see what it's like to walk on the moon and the landing of Apollo 15 into Hadley Base and the discovery of Hadley Rille, alone are worth the price of the ticket.

Also, it's amazing (and fantastic) of the number of actual mountains and valleys they explored,that you can see with your own eyes through a scope.

Especially Hadley Delta Mt (Apollo 15) the Tarus Littrow Valley with the North & South Massifs (Apollo 17). These feature in many of the Apollo photos and even a 60mm can display them.

Interestingly, all the Apollo landing sites are well displayed at Full Moon.

And a Neutral Density filter is sort of recommended....

cheers all
Ian