More Aurora from Tassie...

With Apollo 11 having returned safely back to Earth 45 years and 2 days ago, it's time to resume our usual programming. And what better way to start than another one of Fran's fine Aurora photos:

© Fran Davis

Tranquility Base

"Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed."

45 Years ago today, Eagle, Apollo 11's Lunar Module with astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin aboard, touched down on the surface of the Moon. They landed at approximately 20:17:40 UTC on July 20, 1969. Six hours later, they left the spacecraft and spent 2 hours, 31 minutes on the lunar surface, examining and photographing it, setting up some scientific experiment packages, and collecting 47.5 pounds (21.5 kg) of dirt and rock samples for return to Earth. They lifted off the surface on July 21 at 17:54 UTC.

Tranquility Base has remained unvisited since then.

(source: Wikipedia)

The above image of the Moon was taken approximately 36 hours after the November 2012 total solar eclipse. The only other world that we humans have visited. So long ago.

On this day, 45 years ago...

... three brave men strapped themselves to the top of a Saturn V rocket weighing 2,923,387 kg, most of it highly explosive fuel, and blasted off from Earth to become the first human beings to walk on another celestial body. On July 16, 1969, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Mike Collins began the journey that would ultimately become one giant leap for mankind.

The Apollo 11 mission was supported by over 400,000 support staff from all around the world, and achieved their goal four days later, on July 20, 1969. For their achievements, the Apollo 11 astronauts would later become the only living persons to have Lunar craters on the near side of the Moon (the side visible from Earth) named after them.  

Image courtesy of NASA

Aurora Australis from Tasmania

Tasmania is one of the prime places in the world to view Aurora. That is why we went there in the first place! And, by pure chance, we got to meet fellow Aurora chaser and photographer, Fran Davis. It was a lucky coincidence!

© Fran Davis  -  larger version

We were lucky to meet Fran Davis on our first night in Hobart, while photographing the Dark Mofo light show from Rosny Lookout. While we were snapping away, Fran, a fellow photographer, came over to compare exposure notes. During our conversation it became clear that Fran is also an avid Aurora photographer. She was kind enough and patient enough to answer all our questions after that, and we had quite a few!

Fran, thanks again for everything! Meeting you was the best thing that could have happened to us on our first day in Tassie, and we had a huge head start on finding suitable observing locations because of you. You can send us more of your images anytime! :)

Tasmania 2014

No, we didn't get to see Aurora while on our Tasmanian adventure, but we did see some pretty cool things. Tasmania is a very photogenic place! Everyone was so friendly and helpful that we didn't want to leave... so Thank You all (you know who you are) for your time and generosity. Your help made everything even better, and we look forward to visiting Tasmania again... as soon as we get another chance! :-)

Here are some of the cool things we got to see while in Tasmania:

Dark Mofo:

Salamanca Place, Hobart:

Mt Pleasant Radio Observatory:

Lots and lots of picturesque Tasmanian scenery:

Snow:

Big dogs...

... and HUGE killer kangaroos :-)