Celebrating the 50 years since Apollo 11

COMMEMORATIONS for the fiftieth anniversary of the first person to walk on the moon are set for this Sunday, 21 July at the Ballarat Observatory.

The whole day will be a celebration of the moon landing and future space exploration fit for all ages, with children’s activities beginning at 11am including rocket launching, camera obscura and the creation of cardboard moon rovers.

John F Kennedy’s speech, followed by the Houston clip of Apollo 11 landing, will play at 12.45pm, just ahead of the time the first step was taken on the moon, 12.56pm AEST.

Finalist images from the Observatory’s Capturing the Moon photography competition will be exhibited, Jacinta Irene Dennett will play the harp from 1pm until 2pm, and The Infusers will play moon themed music from 3.30pm to 4pm.

From 12pm to 5pm attendees can enjoy safe solar viewing, conditions permitting, and telescopic viewings of Jupiter and Saturn will round out the evening from 5.45pm to 7.30pm.

Judith Bailey from the Observatory said it’s important for the younger generation to understand that Apollo 11’s moon landing was a critical step for humankind.

“Moving off the earth and stepping onto another planet is not something that’s easy to do. It’s fraught with extreme risks, and it’s something that we take for granted,” she said.

“There are so many sci-fi movies that seem to make space travel easy, but in fact it’s actually one of the most hazardous things a human can do, leaving the planet and travelling to another planet.”

Ms Bailey also said it’s valuable to understand the moon’s basics.

“A lot of people don’t understand the phases of the moon. We can only see one side of the moon. 50 years ago, when Australia picked up the signal, it’s because the moon was rising in a first quarter phase,” she said. “We had a better view than America, but in fact his year, the moon will be in the last quarter phase, rising in the night.

“It’s all an educative process and I hope we have a lot of fun along the way, remembering the earlier astronauts who went to the moon, and future potential programs.”

The Third Rock Café, The Paella Guy, Vietnam Food House, and Lil’s Poffertjes will have food and drinks available.

Entry is with a gold coin donation.

Find the Ballarat Municipal Observatory and Museum at 439 Cobden Street, with car entry from Magpie Street, Mount Pleasant.