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Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

See Explanation. Clicking on the picture will download the highest resolution version available.

One Small Step

Explanation: On July 20th, 1969, a human first set foot on the Moon . Pictured above is the first lunar footprint. The footprint and distinction of the first person to walk on the Moon belong to Neil Armstrong . It has been estimated that one billion people world-wide watched Armstrong's first step - making the live transmission from a camera mounted on the lunar lander the highest rated television show ever. Upon setting foot on the moon, Armstrong said: “That's one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind.” The Apollo missions to the Moon have been described as the result of the greatest technological mobilization the world has known.

Date September 21, 1995
Credit Credit: NASA, Kennedy Space Center, Neil Armstrong
Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC,
NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U.