AS11-44-6552 (July 1969) —- This view of the Earth rising over the Moon's horizon was taken from the
Apollo spacecraft. The lunar terrain pictured is in the area of Smyth's Sea on the nearside.


“The Moon is not the Earth.
Conditions there are weird
and our common sense
is likely to fail us.” — Phil Plait



on the moon there is
Annette Marie Hyder

no scattering of thick handfuls of sunlight
no smearing of shine across the sky
the air is dark
even at high noon
blazes with unseen stars
that look unblinking
at your nakedness
(you are stripped of the covering
the habitual wear
of atmosphere
and nothing separates
you from the night)

every harsh gesture
or hard movement
is turned to grace
gravity softens its hold
so movements unfold
slowly like a flower
in the dark
petals, stamens, leaves and stems
made of shadows
laid thick as blankets
to ward away the waiting cold
blossom in profusion
take root in your imagination

halos minus angels dance
in the thin space
between heartbeats
heiligenschein flashes
earth hangs like a promise
on the air
a mirage of beauty
that looks like it can be reached
in one jump


Moon landing

Today being the 40 year anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, the first manned mission to land on the moon, here are some celebratory links:

• Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
• Great National Geographic article: APOLLO 11 HOAX PHOTOS: 8 Moon-Landing Myths — Busted
• Weird facts about Apollo 11
• Bad Astronomy link: FOX TV and the Apollo Moon Hoax
• Google Moon

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Space shuttle toilet overflows