BellaOnline Forums Education Astronomy What would you like to do on the Moon?

Thinking about the Apollo 11 anniversary today. If I could go to the Moon, there is one special thing I would like to do. I love looking at the Moon, but I think being on the Moon and looking up at Earth would be an even more beautiful sight.

If you could go to the Moon, what would you want to do?

Besides looking up at Earth, I think a picnic would be nice.

Looking for unique shaped moon rocks would be fun. Exploring the land would be very interesting. Are there caves on the moon? I love caves.

Actually, Phyllis, there are caves on the Moon according to the photos taken by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.

Picnics! Yay! But don't see how to manage on the Moon with helmets.

Frolic naked!!

Is the astronomy forum about to become x-rated?! LOL

But, Sandy, I guess you could do that if you chose your time and place carefully and didn't expect to frolic for long. In the morning sun, you could get a balmy temperature, though sunscreen is recommended. Unfortunately, the fun would be abruptly halted by lack of oxygen within fifteen seconds. Bummer.

It is hard to believe Mona that it is 42 years that together with family and friends I sat in front of a black and white TV screen and watched �the moon landing�. Even though we knew it was real there were still some press stories claiming that it all took place on a Hollywood back lot, and at the time it was so �unimaginable� that it was really like something from a sci-fi movie.

What would I do if somehow magically finding myself sitting on the moon?

Just sit with my helmet on and look at the earth for as long as possible as the view was changing. Those pictures that have been published over the years are breathtaking, a wonderful sight.

While at the same time would be wondering what we are doing to it, both as far as the planets nature and own �life� is concerned and our way of �living� on it. There was a massacre of 70 mostly young people yesterday, Friday 22nd, in Norway, in the Horn of Africa millions are starving, while there are continually wars in the name of political thought, religion and heaven knows what else.

Think seeing earth from a distance would not only be a 'fantastic experience' in every sense of the phrase, but also one where one would look at the planet and ask �Why this, what have we done and what are we still doing?�

C'mon Sandy - design a Frolic Naked, a new cocktail for us to enjoy in salute to all who put mankind there.

I have a live recording made by my husband on a little cassette packed away somewhere, taken from the radio live roadcast, should have listened to it again though with youtube and internet I am sure a cursory search will get all the realism one wants.

What would you put in your Naked Frolic cocktail?

I'd need to experiment a bit but guess to start I would go with Absinthe and three drops of raw honey slushed/shaken with granita ice, served in a martini style glass with short straws and a mint leaf.

Cheers now

Francine, it's interesting that you think of what the Earth means, because astronauts - who've had the experience of seeing the Earth from the outside - have reacted in just that way.

Michael Collins (Apollo 11), as he thought of looking at the Earth, said, "My God, that little thing is so fragile out there." Scott Carpenter (Mercury 7) said, "This planet is a delicate flower and it must be cared for. It's lonely. It's small. And we are mistreating it. This is our home, and this is all we've got."

The great and pioneering Russian cosmonaut Aleksei Leonov said, "The Earth was small, light blue, and so touchingly alone, our home that must be defended like a holy relic."

There are many similar responses from those who have been in space and I think for the 24 Apollo astronauts who left "Earth's gravity and circled the Moon, this seems to sum it up:
"We came all this way to explore the moon, and the most important thing is that we discovered the earth." (William Anders, Apollo 8)
� William Anders
Apollo

I'm really taken with Lestie's idea of having a cocktail. I wonder where a person could find a cocktain editor. ;]

But I'm thinking not of a martini glass, as those are conical, more like those rounded shallow glasses people - for some reason - used to drink champagne out of. Because the roundness would echo that of the Moon. At first, wasn't sure about the mint, but that would be a connection with the Earth. But how about a slice of orange (or lemon, depending on the taste wanted) for the Sun?

Crushed or slushy ice? And I guess the absinthe would make it milky? I'm guessing here as I've never tried it. A friend said pernod and orange was a good combination.

Still waiting for some recipes......

OK, ladies, my frolic is over, I've found some clothes AND some sunscreen, and I've even remembered to turn on the 'watch list' option for this forum so I can keep up. Seems I've got some earthbound work to do here.

I love the idea of a moon-inspired cocktail! Give me a day or two to play around with the ideas you've submitted - Mona, love the idea of round glasses! - and I'll have something lunar to sip soon!

Thanks for those heavenly suggestions, everybody!!