sɪɴᴄᴇ ᴀ̳ɴ̳ᴄ̳ɪ̳ᴇ̳ɴ̳ᴛ̳ ᴛɪᴍᴇs, ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ʜᴀᴠᴇ sᴛᴜᴅɪᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴀᴢᴇ ᴏғ ᴀ ʀᴇsᴇᴀʀᴄʜᴇʀ, ʜᴏᴘɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ sᴇᴇ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴜɴᴜsᴜᴀʟ, ᴜɴᴇᴀʀᴛʜʟʏ. ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴀᴡᴀɪᴛᴇᴅ ᴀ ᴍᴀɴ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴀʀʟʏ 𝟼𝟶s ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀsᴛ ᴄᴇɴᴛᴜʀʏ ᴡᴀs ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀɪɴᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ sᴏ-ᴄᴀʟʟᴇᴅ ʙʀᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢs ʀᴇᴘᴏʀᴛ.
ɪɴ ᴛʜɪs ᴡᴏʀᴋ, ɪɴ ғᴀᴄᴛ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪsᴄᴏᴠᴇʀʏ ᴏғ ᴇᴠɪᴅᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴏғ ᴀɴ ᴇ̳x̳ᴛ̳ʀ̳ᴀ̳ᴛ̳ᴇ̳ʀ̳ʀ̳ᴇ̳s̳ᴛ̳ʀ̳ɪ̳ᴀ̳ʟ̳ ᴄɪᴠɪʟɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ᴡᴀs ᴘʀᴇᴅɪᴄᴛᴇᴅ.
ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴏsᴘᴇᴄᴛ ᴏғ ᴍᴀsᴛᴇʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ sᴄɪᴇɴᴛɪғɪᴄ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴇᴄʜɴᴏʟᴏɢɪᴄᴀʟ ᴀᴄʜɪᴇᴠᴇᴍᴇɴᴛs ᴏғ ᴀɴ ᴏғғ-ᴇᴀʀᴛʜ ᴄɪᴠɪʟɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ.
ɢᴇᴏʀɢᴇ ʟᴇᴏɴᴀʀᴅ’s ʙᴏᴏᴋ, “sᴏᴍᴇʙᴏᴅʏ ᴇʟsᴇ ɪs ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ,” ɪs ᴀᴠᴀɪʟᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴘᴜʀᴄʜᴀsᴇ ᴏɴ ᴀᴍᴀᴢᴏɴ
ɪɴ 𝟷𝟿𝟽𝟽, ᴀ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴡᴀs ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜᴋ ʙʏ ɢᴇᴏʀɢᴇ ʟᴇᴏɴᴀʀᴅ: “sᴏᴍᴇʙᴏᴅʏ ᴇʟsᴇ ɪs ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ”. ᴡʜᴏ ɪs ʜɪᴅɪɴɢ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘsᴇᴜᴅᴏɴʏᴍ ᴏғ ɢ. ʟᴇᴏɴᴀʀᴅ? ɪs ᴜɴᴋɴᴏᴡɴ.
ɪɴ ᴀɴʏ ᴄᴀsᴇ, ᴛʜɪs ɪs ᴀ ᴡᴇʟʟ-ɪɴғᴏʀᴍᴇᴅ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ ᴡʜᴏ ᴍᴀɴᴀɢᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ɢᴀɪɴ ᴀᴄᴄᴇss ᴛᴏ ᴇxᴛᴇɴsɪᴠᴇ, ɪɴᴄʟᴜᴅɪɴɢ ᴛᴏᴘ-sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛ, ɪɴғᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ.
ᴛʜɪʀᴛʏ-ғɪᴠᴇ ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏs, ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏғ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ɪs ᴀᴄᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴɪᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴀ ɴᴀsᴀ ᴄᴏᴅᴇ ɴᴜᴍʙᴇʀ, ᴅᴏᴢᴇɴs ᴏғ ᴅᴇᴛᴀɪʟᴇᴅ ᴅʀᴀᴡɪɴɢs ᴍᴀᴅᴇ, ᴀᴄᴄᴏʀᴅɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ, ғʀᴏᴍ ʜɪɢʜ-ǫᴜᴀʟɪᴛʏ ʟᴀʀɢᴇ-ғᴏʀᴍᴀᴛ ɴᴀsᴀ ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏɢʀᴀᴘʜs, ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏᴏᴋ, ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴀᴛᴇᴍᴇɴᴛs ᴏғ ᴇxᴘᴇʀᴛs ᴀɴᴅ ᴀɴ ᴇxᴛᴇɴsɪᴠᴇ ʙɪʙʟɪᴏɢʀᴀᴘʜʏ ʟᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴀ sᴛᴜɴɴɪɴɢ ᴄᴏɴᴄʟᴜsɪᴏɴ: ɴᴀsᴀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴀɴʏ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ-ғᴀᴍᴏᴜs sᴄɪᴇɴᴛɪsᴛs ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴋɴᴏᴡɴ ғᴏʀ ᴍᴀɴʏ ʏᴇᴀʀs ᴛʜᴀᴛ sɪɢɴs ᴏғ ɪɴᴛᴇʟʟɪɢᴇɴᴛ ʟɪғᴇ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ. ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ɪɴғᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜɪs ɪs ᴄᴀʀᴇғᴜʟʟʏ ʜɪᴅᴅᴇɴ.
ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴜɴɪᴛʏ ᴅɪᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ᴀᴛᴛᴀᴄʜ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ɪᴍᴘᴏʀᴛᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏᴏᴋ, ᴄᴏɴsɪᴅᴇʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀᴛᴇʀɪᴀʟs ɪɴ ɪᴛ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴜɴᴘʀᴏᴠᴇɴ.
ʙᴜᴛ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇɢɪɴɴɪɴɢ ᴏғ 𝟷𝟿𝟿𝟼, sᴇɴsᴀᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ, ғᴀɴᴛᴀsᴛɪᴄ ɪɴғᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ — ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴛʀᴀᴄᴇs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏʟᴅᴇsᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄʟᴇᴀʀʟʏ ᴇ̳x̳ᴛ̳ʀ̳ᴀ̳ᴛ̳ᴇ̳ʀ̳ʀ̳ᴇ̳s̳ᴛ̳ʀ̳ɪ̳ᴀ̳ʟ̳ ᴄɪᴠɪʟɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ, ᴡᴀs ᴄᴏɴғɪʀᴍᴇᴅ.
ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴇᴡs ᴡᴀs ᴀɴɴᴏᴜɴᴄᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴡᴀsʜɪɴɢᴛᴏɴ ᴀᴛ ᴀ ᴘʀᴇss ᴄᴏɴғᴇʀᴇɴᴄᴇ ʙʏ ᴋᴇɴ ᴊᴏʜɴsᴛᴏɴ, ᴛʜᴇ ғᴏʀᴍᴇʀ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ᴏғ ɴᴀsᴀ’s ʟᴜɴᴀʀ ʟᴀʙᴏʀᴀᴛᴏʀʏ ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏ sᴇʀᴠɪᴄᴇ, ᴀs ᴡᴇʟʟ ᴀs sᴇᴠᴇʀᴀʟ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ғᴏʀᴍᴇʀ ɴᴀsᴀ ᴇɴɢɪɴᴇᴇʀs ᴀɴᴅ sᴄɪᴇɴᴛɪsᴛs.
ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀɪɴ ᴛᴏᴘɪᴄ ᴡᴀs “ɴᴀsᴀ’s ᴄᴏᴠᴇʀ-ᴜᴘ ᴏғ ᴀᴘᴏʟʟᴏ ɪᴍᴀɢᴇs sʜᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴀ̳ɴ̳ᴄ̳ɪ̳ᴇ̳ɴ̳ᴛ̳ ʟᴜɴᴀʀ ʀᴜɪɴs.
ᴋᴇɴ ᴊᴏʜɴsᴛᴏɴ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴄᴀʀᴇғᴜʟʟʏ ʜɪᴅᴅᴇɴ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴜɴɪᴛʏ ғᴏʀ 𝟺𝟶 ʏᴇᴀʀs.
ᴛʜᴇ ᴀsᴛʀᴏɴᴀᴜᴛs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴘᴏʟʟᴏ ᴍɪssɪᴏɴs ᴅɪsᴄᴏᴠᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴀʀᴄʜɪᴛᴇᴄᴛᴜʀᴀʟ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴇᴄʜɴᴏʟᴏɢɪᴄᴀʟ ᴛʀᴀᴄᴇs ᴏғ ᴀɴ ᴀ̳ɴ̳ᴄ̳ɪ̳ᴇ̳ɴ̳ᴛ̳ ᴄɪᴠɪʟɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏɢʀᴀᴘʜᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇᴍ.
ɪɴ ᴀᴅᴅɪᴛɪᴏɴ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴀsᴛʀᴏɴᴀᴜᴛs ᴅɪsᴄᴏᴠᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴀ ᴘʀᴇᴠɪᴏᴜsʟʏ ᴜɴᴋɴᴏᴡɴ ᴛᴇᴄʜɴᴏʟᴏɢʏ ғᴏʀ ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴏʟʟɪɴɢ ɢʀᴀᴠɪᴛʏ (ᴘᴇʀʜᴀᴘs ᴛʜᴇʏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴍᴀsᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴇᴄʜɴᴏʟᴏɢʏ ᴏғ ᴀɴᴛɪ-ɢʀᴀᴠɪᴛʏ).
ᴋᴇɴ ᴊᴏʜɴsᴛᴏɴ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ʜᴏᴡ ʜɪs sᴜᴘᴇʀɪᴏʀs ᴀᴛ ɴᴀsᴀ ᴏʀᴅᴇʀᴇᴅ ʜɪᴍ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴇsᴛʀᴏʏ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ɪᴍᴀɢᴇs ᴅᴜʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴘᴏʟʟᴏ ᴘʀᴏɢʀᴀᴍ, ʙᴜᴛ ʜᴇ ᴋᴇᴘᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴀɢᴀɪɴsᴛ ᴏʀᴅᴇʀs.
ᴊᴏʜɴsᴛᴏɴ sʜᴏᴡᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴇss sᴏᴍᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴏsᴇ ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏs. ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴅᴇᴘɪᴄᴛ ᴇᴠɪᴅᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴏғ ᴀɴ ᴇ̳x̳ᴛ̳ʀ̳ᴀ̳ᴛ̳ᴇ̳ʀ̳ʀ̳ᴇ̳s̳ᴛ̳ʀ̳ɪ̳ᴀ̳ʟ̳ ᴄɪᴠɪʟɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ. ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴅɪᴅ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴀʀᴛʟᴇᴅ ᴊᴏᴜʀɴᴀʟɪsᴛs sᴇᴇ?
ᴛʜᴇ ғᴏᴏᴛᴀɢᴇ sʜᴏᴡᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴜɪɴs ᴏғ ᴄɪᴛɪᴇs, ʜᴜɢᴇ sᴘʜᴇʀɪᴄᴀʟ ᴏʙᴊᴇᴄᴛs ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ᴏғ ɢʟᴀss, sᴛᴏɴᴇ ᴛᴏᴡᴇʀs ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴀsᴛʟᴇs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀɴɢ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɪʀ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ᴏғ ᴀ ʀᴏʙᴏᴛ.
ᴀᴄᴄᴏʀᴅɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴊᴏʜɴsᴛᴏɴ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴍᴇʀɪᴄᴀɴs ʙʀᴏᴜɢʜᴛ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴇᴀʀᴛʜ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɴᴀsᴀ ʜᴀᴅ ᴋᴇᴘᴛ sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛ ғᴏʀ ᴀ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ…
ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ɪɴᴅᴇᴇᴅ ʙᴇᴇɴ sᴇᴠᴇʀᴀʟ ᴅɪsᴄᴏᴠᴇʀɪᴇs ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙᴀғғʟᴇᴅ ɢᴇᴏʟᴏɢɪsᴛs, ɪɴᴄʟᴜᴅɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪsᴄᴏᴠᴇʀʏ ᴏғ ᴀɴ ᴏʀᴀɴɢᴇ ɢʟᴀss ᴘʏʀᴀᴍɪᴅ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴏʀɪɢɪɴ ᴏғ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ sᴛɪʟʟ ᴄᴀɴɴᴏᴛ ʙᴇ ᴇxᴘʟᴀɪɴᴇᴅ. ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴍᴜsᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴇʟsᴇ ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ.
ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜɪs ᴄᴏɴғᴇʀᴇɴᴄᴇ, ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴡʜɪsᴛʟᴇʙʟᴏᴡᴇʀs ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴀɴᴋs ᴏғ ɴᴀsᴀ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴍᴀɴʏ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ʀᴇᴠᴇᴀʟɪɴɢ ʟᴜɴᴀʀ ɪᴍᴀɢᴇs ᴏɴ ᴠᴀʀɪᴏᴜs sɪᴛᴇs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ sᴘᴀᴄᴇ ᴀɢᴇɴᴄʏ. ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴇxᴄᴇʟʟᴇɴᴛ ʀᴇsᴏʟᴜᴛɪᴏɴ.
ᴛʜᴀɴᴋs ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ɪɴᴛᴇʀɴᴇᴛ, ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴀʟʟ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ, ɪɴᴄʟᴜᴅɪɴɢ ᴏʀᴅɪɴᴀʀʏ ᴄɪᴛɪᴢᴇɴs, ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ sᴇᴇ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ᴀᴍᴀᴢɪɴɢ ᴘɪᴄᴛᴜʀᴇs ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇʟʏ ᴜɴʜɪɴᴅᴇʀᴇᴅ.
ʜᴀs ɴᴀsᴀ ʙᴇᴇɴ ʜɪᴅɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴀʟ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜɪs ᴛɪᴍᴇ?
ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜɪs sᴇɴsᴀᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴘʀᴇss ᴄᴏɴғᴇʀᴇɴᴄᴇ, ᴀɴ ɪɴᴛᴇʀᴠɪᴇᴡ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɴᴀsᴀ ᴄᴏɴsᴜʟᴛᴀɴᴛ, ғᴏᴜɴᴅᴇʀ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴄʜɪᴇғ ʀᴇsᴇᴀʀᴄʜᴇʀ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴛᴇʀᴘʀɪsᴇ ᴍɪssɪᴏɴ ᴏʀɢᴀɴɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ, ʀɪᴄʜᴀʀᴅ ʜᴏᴀɢʟᴀɴᴅ (ʜᴇ ᴀᴄᴛᴇᴅ ᴀs ᴀ sᴄɪᴇɴᴛɪғɪᴄ ᴄᴏɴsᴜʟᴛᴀɴᴛ ғᴏʀ ᴄʙs ɴᴇᴡs ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀsᴀ ᴊᴇᴛ ᴇɴɢɪɴᴇ ʟᴀʙᴏʀᴀᴛᴏʀʏ ᴅᴜʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴘᴏʟʟᴏ 𝟷𝟷 ᴍɪssɪᴏɴ), ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀᴇᴅ.
ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ʜᴇ, ᴀʟᴏɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴊᴏʜɴsᴛᴏɴ, ᴡʜᴏ ʀᴇʟᴇᴀsᴇᴅ ᴛʜɪs sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛ ᴅᴀᴛᴀ. ʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs ʜɪs ᴏᴘɪɴɪᴏɴ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪsᴄᴏᴠᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴄɪᴠɪʟɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ:
“ɪ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴘᴏʟʟᴏ ᴘʀᴏᴊᴇᴄᴛ ᴄᴏɴғɪʀᴍᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇxɪsᴛᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴏғ ᴀɴ ᴀᴍᴀᴢɪɴɢ, ᴀ̳ɴ̳ᴄ̳ɪ̳ᴇ̳ɴ̳ᴛ̳, ʙᴜᴛ sᴛɪʟʟ ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ ᴄɪᴠɪʟɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ. ᴏᴜʀ ᴀɴᴄᴇsᴛᴏʀs ʟᴀɪᴅ ɪᴛ ᴅᴏᴡɴ, ɪᴛ’s sᴄᴀʀʏ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ɪɴ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴋɴᴇᴇ.
ʙᴜᴛ ᴡᴇ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴀ sᴍᴀʟʟ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ɪɴғᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɴᴀsᴀ ʜᴀs ʀᴇᴄᴇɪᴠᴇᴅ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴀɴ ᴀ̳ɴ̳ᴄ̳ɪ̳ᴇ̳ɴ̳ᴛ̳, ʟᴏɴɢ-ʟᴏsᴛ ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ ᴄɪᴠɪʟɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ, ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ɪɴᴅɪᴄᴀᴛᴇs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴀɴ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ɪɴʜᴀʙɪᴛᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴛɪʀᴇ sᴏʟᴀʀ sʏsᴛᴇᴍ.
ᴛʜɪs ɪs ᴇᴠɪᴅᴇɴᴄᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴅᴀᴛᴀ ᴏʙᴛᴀɪɴᴇᴅ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴍᴀʀs, ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴀʀᴇ ᴀʟsᴏ ᴄʟᴀssɪғɪᴇᴅ ʙʏ ɴᴀsᴀ. ᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀsᴋɪɴɢ ɪғ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴜɪɴs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ “ɴᴇᴡ ᴀᴛʟᴀɴᴛɪs” ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ? ᴡᴇʟʟ, ᴛᴏ ʙᴇɢɪɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ, ɪ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ɪᴛ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄᴏʀʀᴇᴄᴛ ᴛᴏ sᴀʏ “ᴏʟᴅ ᴀᴛʟᴀɴᴛɪs”.
ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴅᴠᴀɴᴄᴇᴅ sᴄɪᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴄɪᴠɪʟɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ɪᴛ ᴘᴏssɪʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛʀᴀᴠᴇʟ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴇᴀʀᴛʜ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ᴛʜᴏᴜsᴀɴᴅs (ᴏʀ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴍɪʟʟɪᴏɴs) ᴏғ ʏᴇᴀʀs ᴀɢᴏ ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴜɪʟᴅ sᴛʀᴜᴄᴛᴜʀᴇs ᴛʜᴇʀᴇғʀᴏᴍ ᴀ ᴍᴀᴛᴇʀɪᴀʟ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʀᴇsᴇᴍʙʟᴇs ɢʟᴀss. ᴛʜɪs ᴄᴀɴ ʙᴇ ᴊᴜᴅɢᴇᴅ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴍᴀᴛᴇʀɪᴀʟs.
ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴀʟʟ, ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs ᴀɴ ᴀ̳ɴ̳ᴄ̳ɪ̳ᴇ̳ɴ̳ᴛ̳ ᴇɢʏᴘᴛɪᴀɴ ᴍʏᴛʜ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴏᴅ ᴏғ ᴡɪsᴅᴏᴍ, ᴛʜᴏᴛʜ, ᴡʜᴏ sᴜᴘᴘᴏsᴇᴅʟʏ ᴅᴇsᴄᴇɴᴅᴇᴅ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴀᴜɢʜᴛ ᴍᴀɴ ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇ, ᴡʀɪᴛɪɴɢ, ᴀʀᴄʜɪᴛᴇᴄᴛᴜʀᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ sᴏ ᴏɴ.
sᴛʀᴀɴɢᴇ ᴏʙᴊᴇᴄᴛ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ
ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏɴғɪʀᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠᴇʀᴀᴄɪᴛʏ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴏʀʏ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇxɪsᴛᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴏғ ᴀ ᴄɪᴠɪʟɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ᴏʀ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇғᴜᴛᴇ ɪᴛ ɪs ᴘᴏssɪʙʟᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ, ʙʏ ᴄᴏᴍʙɪɴɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇғғᴏʀᴛs ᴏғ sᴇᴠᴇʀᴀʟ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛʀɪᴇs. ɪᴛ ɪs ɴᴇᴄᴇssᴀʀʏ ᴛᴏ ɢᴏ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ᴀs ᴀ ᴊᴏɪɴᴛ ᴇxᴘᴇᴅɪᴛɪᴏɴ.
ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛᴇᴄʜɴᴏʟᴏɢɪᴇs ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴜsᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ?
ᴊᴏʜɴsᴛᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴏᴀɢʟᴀɴᴅ ᴡʀᴏᴛᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋ “ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴍɪssɪᴏɴ: ᴛʜᴇ s̳ᴇ̳ᴄ̳ʀ̳ᴇ̳ᴛ̳ ʜɪsᴛᴏʀʏ ᴏғ ɴᴀsᴀ”, ᴛʀʏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ɪɴᴛʀᴏᴅᴜᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡʜᴏʟᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴀʟ sᴛᴏʀʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴀᴡᴀɪᴛs ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ.
ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡʀɪᴛᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴏᴍᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴇᴄʜɴᴏʟᴏɢɪᴇs ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ɪɴᴅɪᴄᴀᴛᴇ ᴀ ʜɪɢʜ ʟᴇᴠᴇʟ ᴏғ ᴅᴇᴠᴇʟᴏᴘᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴏғ ᴛᴇᴄʜɴɪᴄᴀʟ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ.
ᴛʜᴇ sᴏᴠɪᴇᴛ ᴜɴɪᴏɴ sᴇɴᴛ ᴀɴ ᴀʟʟ-ᴛᴇʀʀᴀɪɴ ᴠᴇʜɪᴄʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ, ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴀʟsᴏ ᴛᴏᴏᴋ ᴘɪᴄᴛᴜʀᴇs ᴏғ ᴀɴ ᴀ̳ɴ̳ᴄ̳ɪ̳ᴇ̳ɴ̳ᴛ̳ ᴄɪᴠɪʟɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ. ʙᴜᴛ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴀ ᴛʜᴏʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴀɴᴀʟʏsɪs, ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴄʟᴀssɪғɪᴇᴅ.
ᴛʜᴜs, ɪɴғᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇxɪsᴛᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴏғ ʀᴜɪɴs ᴏғ ʙᴜɪʟᴅɪɴɢs ʙᴜɪʟᴛ ʙʏ ᴀɴ ᴇ̳x̳ᴛ̳ʀ̳ᴀ̳ᴛ̳ᴇ̳ʀ̳ʀ̳ᴇ̳s̳ᴛ̳ʀ̳ɪ̳ᴀ̳ʟ̳ ᴄɪᴠɪʟɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ, ᴀs ᴡᴇʟʟ ᴀs ᴛᴇᴄʜɴᴏʟᴏɢɪᴇs (ᴀɴᴅ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜɪs ᴄᴀɴ ʙᴇ ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ʙᴜᴛ ᴀʟsᴏ ɪɴ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅs ᴡɪᴛʜɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ sᴏʟᴀʀ sʏsᴛᴇᴍ), ᴡᴀs ʜɪᴅᴅᴇɴ ɴᴏᴛ ᴏɴʟʏ ʙʏ ɴᴀsᴀ ʙᴜᴛ ᴀʟsᴏ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ sᴏᴠɪᴇᴛ ɢᴏᴠᴇʀɴᴍᴇɴᴛ.
ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴀɴ ᴇғғᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ sᴘʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴏғ ɪɴғᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴘɪɴɪᴏɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴀᴍᴇʀɪᴄᴀɴs ʜᴀᴅ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴘɪsᴏᴅᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴏғ ᴀɴ ᴀᴍᴇʀɪᴄᴀɴ ᴀsᴛʀᴏɴᴀᴜᴛ ᴡᴀs sɪᴍᴘʟʏ – ғᴏʀ ᴇxᴀᴍᴘʟᴇ-ғɪʟᴍᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴀ ғɪʟᴍ sᴛᴜᴅɪᴏ. ᴛʜᴀᴛ’s ᴀ ʟɪᴇ.
ʙᴀsᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ɴᴀsᴀ’s ᴇᴠɪᴅᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀɴᴀʟʏsɪs, ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴀʀᴇ ᴄᴏɴᴠɪɴᴄᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜɪs ʀᴜᴍᴏʀ ɪs ᴀᴄᴛᴜᴀʟʟʏ ᴀ ᴅᴇʟɪʙᴇʀᴀᴛᴇ “ᴍɪʟɪᴛᴀʀʏ ᴅɪsɪɴғᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ”. ɪᴛ’s ᴅᴇsɪɢɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʜɪᴅᴇ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɴᴀsᴀ ᴀᴄᴛᴜᴀʟʟʏ ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ʙʀᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ᴇᴀʀᴛʜ.
ᴛʜɪs ᴡᴀs ɪɴ ᴊᴜʟʏ 𝟷𝟿𝟼𝟿, ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴀsᴛʀᴏɴᴀᴜᴛs ᴡᴇʀᴇ ʀᴇᴛᴜʀɴɪɴɢ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ. ʙᴀsᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ sᴀᴡ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴏᴡɴ ᴇʏᴇs, ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴀʀᴇ sᴜʀᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇɢɪɴɴɪɴɢ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʟɪᴇ — “ᴡᴇ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ” — ᴡᴀs ʟᴀɪᴅ ʙʏ ɴᴀsᴀ ɪᴛsᴇʟғ.
ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɴᴀsᴀ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ?
ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴀ ᴋɪɴᴅ ᴏғ ɪɴsᴜʀᴀɴᴄᴇ sᴏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɴᴏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴀsᴋ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴇʀʀɪʙʟᴇ ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴ: “ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɴᴀsᴀ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ.”
ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀs ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ “ᴍʏᴛʜ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ” ᴘʀᴏᴠɪᴅᴇᴅ ɴᴀsᴀ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴄᴏɴғɪᴅᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪᴛ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ʜɪᴅᴇ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ” ғᴀɪʟᴇᴅ ” ᴘʀᴏɢʀᴀᴍ ᴛᴏ sᴛᴜᴅʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ.
ʜɪᴅᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀsᴛʀᴏɴᴀᴜᴛs ᴡᴇʀᴇ ɢɪᴠᴇɴ sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛ ᴀssɪɢɴᴍᴇɴᴛs ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴘᴏʀᴛ ᴏɴ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀɪᴄᴇʟᴇss ᴀ̳ɴ̳ᴄ̳ɪ̳ᴇ̳ɴ̳ᴛ̳ ᴇ̳x̳ᴛ̳ʀ̳ᴀ̳ᴛ̳ᴇ̳ʀ̳ʀ̳ᴇ̳s̳ᴛ̳ʀ̳ɪ̳ᴀ̳ʟ̳ ᴛᴇᴄʜɴᴏʟᴏɢɪᴇs, sᴀᴍᴘʟᴇs ᴏғ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ.
sᴏᴍᴇ ʀᴇsᴇᴀʀᴄʜᴇʀs, ɪɴᴄʟᴜᴅɪɴɢ ʀɪᴄʜᴀʀᴅ ʜᴏᴀɢʟᴀɴᴅ, ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴀɴ ᴀ̳ʟ̳ɪ̳ᴇ̳ɴ̳ ʀᴀᴄᴇ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴜsᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ᴀs ᴀ ᴛʀᴀɴsɪᴛ ʙᴀsᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʀsᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴀᴄᴛɪᴠɪᴛɪᴇs ᴏɴ ᴇᴀʀᴛʜ. ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ɢᴜᴇssᴇs ᴀʀᴇ ᴄᴏɴғɪʀᴍᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴇɢᴇɴᴅs ᴀɴᴅ ᴍʏᴛʜs ᴏғ ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇs ᴏғ ᴏᴜʀ ᴘʟᴀɴᴇᴛ.
ᴍᴀɴʏ ᴋɪʟᴏᴍᴇᴛᴇʀs ᴏғ ʀᴜɪɴs ᴏғ ʟᴜɴᴀʀ ᴄɪᴛɪᴇs, ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴛʀᴀɴsᴘᴀʀᴇɴᴛ ᴅᴏᴍᴇs ᴏɴ ᴍᴀssɪᴠᴇ ʙᴀsᴇs, ᴠᴀʀɪᴏᴜs ᴛᴜɴɴᴇʟs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ sᴛʀᴜᴄᴛᴜʀᴇs ғᴏʀᴄᴇ sᴄɪᴇɴᴛɪsᴛs ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴄᴏɴsɪᴅᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴠɪᴇᴡs ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴏʙʟᴇᴍs ᴀssᴏᴄɪᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴏᴜʀ ɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴀʟ sᴀᴛᴇʟʟɪᴛᴇ.
ᴛʜᴇ ᴏʀɪɢɪɴ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴇᴀᴛᴜʀᴇs ᴏғ ɪᴛs ᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴀʀᴛʜ ɪs ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ʙɪɢ ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴ ғᴏʀ sᴄɪᴇɴᴄᴇ.
sᴏᴍᴇ ᴘᴀʀᴛɪᴀʟʟʏ ᴅᴇsᴛʀᴏʏᴇᴅ ᴏʙᴊᴇᴄᴛs ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ sᴜʀғᴀᴄᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ᴄᴀɴ ɴᴏᴛ ʙᴇ ᴀᴛᴛʀɪʙᴜᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴀʟ ɢᴇᴏʟᴏɢɪᴄᴀʟ ғᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴs. ᴛʜᴇʏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇx ᴏʀɢᴀɴɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ɢᴇᴏᴍᴇᴛʀɪᴄ sᴛʀᴜᴄᴛᴜʀᴇ.
ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜᴘᴘᴇʀ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ʀɪᴍᴀ ʜᴀᴅʟᴇʏ ᴀʀᴇᴀ, ɴᴇᴀʀ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀɴᴅɪɴɢ sɪᴛᴇ ᴏғ ᴀᴘᴏʟʟᴏ 𝟷𝟻, ᴀ sᴛʀᴜᴄᴛᴜʀᴇ sᴜʀʀᴏᴜɴᴅᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴀ ʜɪɢʜ ᴡᴀʟʟ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴏʀᴍ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴅ.
ᴄᴜʀʀᴇɴᴛʟʏ, ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀʀᴇ 𝟺𝟺 ᴋɴᴏᴡɴ ᴀʀᴇᴀs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴠᴀʀɪᴏᴜs ᴀʀᴛɪғᴀᴄᴛs ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ғᴏᴜɴᴅ. ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴀʀᴇ ʙᴇɪɴɢ sᴛᴜᴅɪᴇᴅ ʙʏ sᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟɪsᴛs ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ sᴘᴀᴄᴇ ɪɴғᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ʙᴀɴᴋ ᴄᴇɴᴛᴇʀ, ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴏᴅᴅᴀʀᴅ sᴘᴀᴄᴇ ғʟɪɢʜᴛ ᴄᴇɴᴛᴇʀ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀɴᴇᴛᴀʀʏ ɪɴsᴛɪᴛᴜᴛᴇ ɪɴ ʜᴏᴜsᴛᴏɴ.
ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʀᴇᴀ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʏᴄʜᴏ ᴄʀᴀᴛᴇʀ, ᴍʏsᴛᴇʀɪᴏᴜs ᴛᴇʀʀᴀᴄᴇ-ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴋɪɴɢs ᴏғ ʀᴏᴄᴋʏ sᴏɪʟ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴅɪsᴄᴏᴠᴇʀᴇᴅ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏɴᴄᴇɴᴛʀɪᴄ ʜᴇxᴀɢᴏɴᴀʟ ᴡᴏʀᴋɪɴɢs ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴇsᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴏғ ᴀ ᴛᴜɴɴᴇʟ ᴇɴᴛʀᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ sʟᴏᴘᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴇʀʀᴀᴄᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴅɪғғɪᴄᴜʟᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴇxᴘʟᴀɪɴ ʙʏ ɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴀʟ ɢᴇᴏʟᴏɢɪᴄᴀʟ ᴘʀᴏᴄᴇssᴇs.
ɪᴛ’s ᴍᴏʀᴇ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀɴ ᴏᴘᴇɴ-ᴘɪᴛ ᴍɪɴɪɴɢ ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ. ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʀᴇᴀ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴘᴇʀɴɪᴄᴜs ᴄʀᴀᴛᴇʀ, ᴀ ᴛʀᴀɴsᴘᴀʀᴇɴᴛ ᴅᴏᴍᴇ ɪs sᴇᴇɴ ʀɪsɪɴɢ ᴀʙᴏᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴅɢᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʀᴀᴛᴇʀ sʜᴀғᴛ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴍᴇ ʜᴀs ᴀ sᴛʀᴀɴɢᴇ ғᴇᴀᴛᴜʀᴇ — ɪᴛ sʜɪɴᴇs ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ɪɴsɪᴅᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ʙʟᴜᴇ-ᴡʜɪᴛᴇ ʟɪɢʜᴛ.
ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜᴘᴘᴇʀ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ “ғᴀᴄᴛᴏʀʏ” ᴀʀᴇᴀ, ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs ᴀ ᴠᴇʀʏ ᴜɴᴜsᴜᴀʟ ᴏʙᴊᴇᴄᴛ, ᴇᴠᴇɴ ʙʏ ʟᴜɴᴀʀ sᴛᴀɴᴅᴀʀᴅs. ᴏɴ ᴀ sǫᴜᴀʀᴇ ʙᴀsᴇ, sᴜʀʀᴏᴜɴᴅᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴡᴀʟʟs ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴏʀᴍ ᴏғ ᴀ ʀʜᴏᴍʙᴜs, ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs ᴀ ᴡᴇʟʟ-ᴋɴᴏᴡɴ ᴅɪsᴋ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ᴅɪᴀᴍᴇᴛᴇʀ ᴏғ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ 𝟻𝟶 ᴍᴇᴛᴇʀs, ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ᴅᴏᴍᴇ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴏᴘ.
ɴᴇxᴛ ᴛᴏ ɪᴛ, ᴛʜᴇ ɪᴍᴀɢᴇ sʜᴏᴡs ᴀ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴄɪʀᴄᴜʟᴀʀ ᴏᴘᴇɴɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅ, sɪᴍɪʟᴀʀ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴛʀᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴀɴ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴄᴀᴘᴏɴɪᴇʀ. ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴘᴇʀɴɪᴄᴜs ᴄʀᴀᴛᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ “ғᴀᴄᴛᴏʀʏ” ᴀʀᴇᴀ ɪs ᴀ ᴘᴇʀғᴇᴄᴛʟʏ ʀᴇɢᴜʟᴀʀ ʀᴇᴄᴛᴀɴɢᴜʟᴀʀ ᴀʀᴇᴀ ᴍᴇᴀsᴜʀɪɴɢ 𝟹𝟶𝟶 x 𝟺𝟶𝟶 ᴍᴇᴛᴇʀs.
ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴘᴏʟʟᴏ 𝟷𝟶 ᴀsᴛʀᴏɴᴀᴜᴛs ᴛᴏᴏᴋ ᴀ ᴜɴɪǫᴜᴇ ɪᴍᴀɢᴇ (ᴀs𝟷𝟶-𝟹𝟸-𝟺𝟾𝟸𝟸) ᴏғ ᴀ ᴏɴᴇ-ᴍɪʟᴇ-ᴡɪᴅᴇ ᴏʙᴊᴇᴄᴛ ᴄᴀʟʟᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ “ᴄᴀsᴛʟᴇ“, ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ʜᴀɴɢs ᴀᴛ ᴀɴ ᴀʟᴛɪᴛᴜᴅᴇ ᴏғ 𝟷𝟺 ᴋɪʟᴏᴍᴇᴛᴇʀs ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴀsᴛs ᴀ ᴄʟᴇᴀʀ sʜᴀᴅᴏᴡ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ sᴜʀғᴀᴄᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ.
ɪᴛ ʟᴏᴏᴋs ʟɪᴋᴇ ɪᴛ ᴄᴏɴsɪsᴛs ᴏғ sᴇᴠᴇʀᴀʟ ᴄʏʟɪɴᴅʀɪᴄᴀʟ ʙʟᴏᴄᴋs ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ʟᴀʀɢᴇ ʙɪɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴜɴɪᴛ. ᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴀɴɢɪɴɢ “ᴄᴀsᴛʟᴇ” sʜᴏᴡs ɪᴛs ɪɴᴛᴇʀɴᴀʟ ᴄᴇʟʟᴜʟᴀʀ sᴛʀᴜᴄᴛᴜʀᴇ, ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ɪᴍᴘʀᴇssɪᴏɴ ᴏғ ᴛʀᴀɴsᴘᴀʀᴇɴᴄʏ ᴏғ ɪɴᴅɪᴠɪᴅᴜᴀʟ ʙʟᴏᴄᴋs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏʙᴊᴇᴄᴛ.
ᴅᴜʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ʙʀɪᴇғɪɴɢ, ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴡᴀs ᴀᴛᴛᴇɴᴅᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴍᴀɴʏ sᴄɪᴇɴᴛɪsᴛs ғʀᴏᴍ ɴᴀsᴀ, ɪᴛ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʀɪᴄʜᴀʀᴅ ʜᴏᴀɢʟᴀɴᴅ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ ʀᴇǫᴜᴇsᴛᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏʀɪɢɪɴᴀʟ ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ “ᴄᴀsᴛʟᴇ” ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀsᴀ ᴀʀᴄʜɪᴠᴇ, ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ. ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴅɪsᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀᴇᴅ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪsᴛ ᴏғ ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏɢʀᴀᴘʜs ᴛᴀᴋᴇɴ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʀᴇᴡ ᴏғ ᴀᴘᴏʟʟᴏ 𝟷𝟶.
ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʀᴄʜɪᴠᴇ, ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ɪɴᴛᴇʀᴍᴇᴅɪᴀᴛᴇ ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏs ᴏғ ᴛʜɪs ᴏʙᴊᴇᴄᴛ, ɪɴ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ɪᴛs ɪɴᴛᴇʀɴᴀʟ sᴛʀᴜᴄᴛᴜʀᴇ ɪs ɴᴏᴛ ᴠɪsɪʙʟᴇ
ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʀᴇᴡ ᴏғ “ᴀᴘᴏʟʟᴏ 𝟷𝟸” ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ʀᴇᴀᴄʜɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ sᴜʀғᴀᴄᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ sᴜᴅᴅᴇɴʟʏ ᴅɪsᴄᴏᴠᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ʟᴀɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴛᴏᴏᴋ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴏʟ ᴏғ ᴀ ᴛʀᴀɴsʟᴜᴄᴇɴᴛ ᴘʏʀᴀᴍɪᴅ-sʜᴀᴘᴇᴅ ᴏʙᴊᴇᴄᴛ.
ɪᴛ ʜᴜɴɢ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴀ ғᴇᴡ ᴍᴇᴛᴇʀs ᴀʙᴏᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇ sᴜʀғᴀᴄᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ, sʜɪᴍᴍᴇʀɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏʟᴏʀs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴀɪɴʙᴏᴡ ᴀɢᴀɪɴsᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ ᴠᴇʟᴠᴇᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴜɴᴀʀ “sᴋʏ“.
ᴅᴜʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ʙʀɪᴇғɪɴɢ, ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴡᴀs ᴀᴛᴛᴇɴᴅᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴍᴀɴʏ sᴄɪᴇɴᴛɪsᴛs ғʀᴏᴍ ɴᴀsᴀ, ɪᴛ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʀɪᴄʜᴀʀᴅ ʜᴏᴀɢʟᴀɴᴅ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ ʀᴇǫᴜᴇsᴛᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏʀɪɢɪɴᴀʟ ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ “ᴄᴀsᴛʟᴇ” ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀsᴀ ᴀʀᴄʜɪᴠᴇ, ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ. ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴅɪsᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀᴇᴅ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪsᴛ ᴏғ ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏɢʀᴀᴘʜs ᴛᴀᴋᴇɴ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʀᴇᴡ ᴏғ ᴀᴘᴏʟʟᴏ 𝟷𝟶.
ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʀᴄʜɪᴠᴇ, ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ɪɴᴛᴇʀᴍᴇᴅɪᴀᴛᴇ ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏs ᴏғ ᴛʜɪs ᴏʙᴊᴇᴄᴛ, ɪɴ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ɪᴛs ɪɴᴛᴇʀɴᴀʟ sᴛʀᴜᴄᴛᴜʀᴇ ɪs ɴᴏᴛ ᴠɪsɪʙʟᴇ
ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʀᴇᴡ ᴏғ “ᴀᴘᴏʟʟᴏ 𝟷𝟸” ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ʀᴇᴀᴄʜɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ sᴜʀғᴀᴄᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ sᴜᴅᴅᴇɴʟʏ ᴅɪsᴄᴏᴠᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ʟᴀɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴛᴏᴏᴋ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴏʟ ᴏғ ᴀ ᴛʀᴀɴsʟᴜᴄᴇɴᴛ ᴘʏʀᴀᴍɪᴅ-sʜᴀᴘᴇᴅ ᴏʙᴊᴇᴄᴛ.
ɪᴛ ʜᴜɴɢ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴀ ғᴇᴡ ᴍᴇᴛᴇʀs ᴀʙᴏᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇ sᴜʀғᴀᴄᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ, sʜɪᴍᴍᴇʀɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏʟᴏʀs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴀɪɴʙᴏᴡ ᴀɢᴀɪɴsᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ ᴠᴇʟᴠᴇᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴜɴᴀʀ “sᴋʏ“.
ɪɴ 𝟷𝟿𝟼𝟿, ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ ᴀ ғɪʟᴍ ᴏғ ᴀsᴛʀᴏɴᴀᴜᴛs ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴊᴏᴜʀɴᴇʏ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ sᴇᴀ ᴏғ sᴛᴏʀᴍs, ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ ᴍᴀɴᴀɢᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ sᴇᴇ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ sᴛʀᴀɴɢᴇ ᴏʙᴊᴇᴄᴛs, ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ ᴄᴀʟʟᴇᴅ “sᴛʀɪᴘᴇᴅ ɢʟᴀssᴇs“, ɴᴀsᴀ ғɪɴᴀʟʟʏ ᴀssᴇssᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴏssɪʙʟᴇ ᴄᴏɴsᴇǫᴜᴇɴᴄᴇs ᴏғ sᴜᴄʜ ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴏʟ.
ᴀsᴛʀᴏɴᴀᴜᴛ ᴍɪᴛᴄʜᴇʟʟ, ᴀɴsᴡᴇʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏʀʀᴇsᴘᴏɴᴅᴇɴᴛ: “ʜᴏᴡ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ғᴇᴇʟ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴀ sᴀғᴇ ʀᴇᴛᴜʀɴ?”, sᴀɪᴅ: “ɪ sᴛɪʟʟ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ ɴᴇᴄᴋ ᴀᴄʜᴇ ғʀᴏᴍ ʜᴀᴠɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏɴsᴛᴀɴᴛʟʏ ᴛᴜʀɴ ᴍʏ ʜᴇᴀᴅ, ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ᴡᴇ ʟɪᴛᴇʀᴀʟʟʏ ғᴇʟᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛ ᴀʟᴏɴᴇ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ. ɪ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴘʀᴀʏ.”
ᴊᴏʜɴsᴛᴏɴ, ᴡʜᴏ ᴡᴏʀᴋᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴏᴜsᴛᴏɴ sᴘᴀᴄᴇ ᴄᴇɴᴛᴇʀ, ᴡᴏʀᴋɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ sᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟɪsᴛs ᴛᴏ sᴛᴜᴅʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏ ɪɴғᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏʙᴛᴀɪɴᴇᴅ ᴅᴜʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ɪᴍᴘʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴘᴏʟʟᴏ ᴘʀᴏɢʀᴀᴍ.
ᴅɪsᴄᴜssɪɴɢ ʟᴜɴᴀʀ ᴀʀᴛɪғᴀᴄᴛs ᴡɪᴛʜ ʀɪᴄʜᴀʀᴅ ʜᴏᴀɢʟᴀɴᴅ, ʜᴇ ɴᴏᴛᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɴᴀsᴀ ᴍᴀɴᴀɢᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ ɪs ᴠᴇʀʏ ᴀɴɴᴏʏᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ sᴜᴄʜ ᴀ ʟᴀʀɢᴇ ɴᴜᴍʙᴇʀ ᴏғ ᴀɴᴏᴍᴀʟᴏᴜs, ᴛᴏ ᴘᴜᴛ ɪᴛ ᴍɪʟᴅʟʏ, ᴏʙᴊᴇᴄᴛs ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ.
ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴏɢʀᴀᴍ ᴡᴀs ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ᴛᴇᴇᴛᴇʀɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠᴇʀɢᴇ ᴏғ ᴄᴀɴᴄᴇʟɪɴɢ ᴍᴀɴɴᴇᴅ ғʟɪɢʜᴛs ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ. ᴛʜᴇ sɪᴛᴜᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴡᴀs ᴀʟsᴏ ᴡᴀʀᴍᴇᴅ ᴜᴘ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ғɪʟᴍ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴘᴏʟʟᴏ 𝟷𝟺 ᴄʀᴇᴡ, ғʀᴏᴍ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴍᴀɴʏ ғʀᴀɢᴍᴇɴᴛs ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴄᴜᴛ ᴏᴜᴛ.
ᴏғ ᴘᴀʀᴛɪᴄᴜʟᴀʀ ɪɴᴛᴇʀᴇsᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇsᴇᴀʀᴄʜᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴀ̳ɴ̳ᴄ̳ɪ̳ᴇ̳ɴ̳ᴛ̳ sᴛʀᴜᴄᴛᴜʀᴇs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʟᴏᴏᴋ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴘᴀʀᴛɪᴀʟʟʏ ᴅᴇsᴛʀᴏʏᴇᴅ ᴄɪᴛɪᴇs.
ᴛʜᴇ ᴏʀʙɪᴛᴀʟ sᴜʀᴠᴇʏ sʜᴏᴡs ᴀ sᴜʀᴘʀɪsɪɴɢʟʏ ʀᴇɢᴜʟᴀʀ ɢᴇᴏᴍᴇᴛʀʏ ᴏғ ʀᴇᴄᴛᴀɴɢᴜʟᴀʀ ᴀɴᴅ sǫᴜᴀʀᴇ sᴛʀᴜᴄᴛᴜʀᴇs. ғʀᴏᴍ ᴀ ʜᴇɪɢʜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻-𝟾 ᴋɪʟᴏᴍᴇᴛᴇʀs, ᴛʜᴇʏ ʀᴇsᴇᴍʙʟᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠɪᴇᴡ ᴏғ ᴏᴜʀ ᴄɪᴛɪᴇs.
ᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍɪssɪᴏɴ ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴏʟ sᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟɪsᴛs ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ɪᴍᴀɢᴇs ᴀs ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡs:
“ᴏᴜʀ ɢᴜʏs, ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴏʀʙɪᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴜɪɴs ᴏғ ᴀ̳ɴ̳ᴄ̳ɪ̳ᴇ̳ɴ̳ᴛ̳ ᴄɪᴛɪᴇs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ, ᴛʀᴀɴsᴘᴀʀᴇɴᴛ ᴘʏʀᴀᴍɪᴅs, ᴅᴏᴍᴇs, ᴀɴᴅ ɢᴏᴅ ᴋɴᴏᴡs ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴇʟsᴇ, ʜɪᴅᴅᴇɴ ɴᴏᴡ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀғᴇs ᴏғ ɴᴏᴛ ᴏɴʟʏ ɴᴀsᴀ. ᴡᴇ ғᴇʟᴛ ʟɪᴋᴇ ʀᴏʙɪɴsᴏɴ ᴄʀᴜsᴏᴇ, ʜᴀᴠɪɴɢ sᴛᴜᴍʙʟᴇᴅ ᴜᴘᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴏᴏᴛᴘʀɪɴᴛs ᴏғ ʙᴀʀᴇ ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ ғᴇᴇᴛ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴇᴛ sᴀɴᴅ ᴏғ ᴀɴ ᴜɴɪɴʜᴀʙɪᴛᴇᴅ ɪsʟᴀɴᴅ.”
ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴄᴏɴᴄʟᴜsɪᴏɴs ᴅᴏ ɢᴇᴏʟᴏɢɪsᴛs ᴀɴᴅ ᴘʟᴀɴᴇᴛᴀʀʏ sᴄɪᴇɴᴛɪsᴛs ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴡʜᴇɴ sᴛᴜᴅʏɪɴɢ ɪᴍᴀɢᴇs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴜɪɴs ᴏғ ʟᴜɴᴀʀ ᴄɪᴛɪᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴀɴᴏᴍᴀʟᴏᴜs ᴏʙᴊᴇᴄᴛs? ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴏᴘɪɴɪᴏɴ, ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴄᴀɴɴᴏᴛ ʙᴇ ɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴀʟ ғᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴs.
“ᴡᴇ ᴍᴜsᴛ ʀᴇᴄᴏɢɴɪᴢᴇ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴀʀᴛɪғɪᴄɪᴀʟ ᴏʀɪɢɪɴ. ᴀs ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴍᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ᴘʏʀᴀᴍɪᴅs, ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴍᴏʀᴇ sᴏ.”
ᴛʜᴇ ɪɴᴛᴇʟʟɪɢᴇɴᴛ ᴀᴄᴛɪᴠɪᴛʏ ᴏғ ᴀɴ ᴀ̳ʟ̳ɪ̳ᴇ̳ɴ̳ ᴄɪᴠɪʟɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀᴇᴅ ᴜɴᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅʟʏ ᴄʟᴏsᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴜs. ᴘsʏᴄʜᴏʟᴏɢɪᴄᴀʟʟʏ, ᴡᴇ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛ ʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜɪs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ɴᴏᴡ ᴍᴀɴʏ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴘᴇʀᴄᴇɪᴠᴇ ɪᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴅɪғғɪᴄᴜʟᴛʏ.
