July 20, 1969: One giant leap for mankind

Each generation has one or two days that everyone remembers. Sadly, most of these days commemorate terrible events, such as Sept. 11, 2001.

July 20, 1969 on the other hand, was a happy, triumphant day.

Apollo 11, the first manned mission to the moon, landed on the moon’s surface 48 years ago.

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The accomplishment represents the fulfillment of thousands of years of human wonder and endeavor. On that fateful day, I was with a now departed friend, Mike Nightingale, in Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada. That afternoon we had lunch and watched a small black and white television set up in the restaurant’s large dining room.

Probably 100 people cheered when Neil Armstrong exited from the Lunar Module and stepped on the surface of the moon. A Mr. Smith from St. Louis brought drinks for everyone in the house, and a good time was had by all. A lot has happened since then, some good, some bad, but the memory of that day is indeed happy to millions around the world.

Celebrate Apollo 11 on Tuesday night by observing the 3-day-old moon in the west around 8 p.m. Adding to the beauty of the thin crescent moon is Mercury, nearer the horizon 8 degrees to the right (north) of and below the moon. There is more. Regulus, the brightest star in Leo the Lion, is only one degree above Mercury.