Five of the nation’s scientific and cultural institutions in Canberra have joined forces to form a ‘Moon Rock Trail’ to mark this month’s 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission that took a man to the moon in 1969.
Geoscience Australia, the National Museum of Australia, the National Science and Technology Centre (Questacon), The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation’s (CSIRO) Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex at Tidbinbilla and the Mount Stromlo Observatory have combined to form the trail which offers visitors the chance to see, touch and walk on the moon.
Included 0n the trail is the only piece of the moon in the Southern Hemisphere that can be touched; Australian flags flown to the surface of the moon; and the chance to walk across the face of the moon on one of Canberra’s highest peaks.
Curator at Geoscience Australia, Steve Petkovski said the lunar touchstone on show at Geoscience Australia was on long-term loan from NASA and was one of only 11 in the world.
“We’re really privileged to be the only place in the Southern Hemisphere where visitors can now touch a moon rock that was specially brought back from an Apollo mission, rather than a piece that fell to earth as a meteorite,” Mr Petkovski said.
Exhibition Content Manager at Questacon, Anita Beck said the display in the Questacon foyer had some special elements thanks to a loan from the National Archives of Australia.
“In addition to fragments of moon rock brought back from the Apollo 11 mission, Questacon is thrilled to be displaying an Australian flag that the NASA crew took with them on their historic 1.5 million kilometre journey,” Ms Beck said.
Director of the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex, Ed Kruzins said the complex would be featuring its lunar sample which at 147.25 grams was the largest moon rock on public display in Australia.
Brad Tucker from the Australian National University’s (ANU) Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics said one of the hidden gems at the Mt Stromlo Observatory was the moon sculpture.
“Our moon sculpture allows you to not only touch a piece of the moon but to walk on it – experiencing first-hand the wonders of space and what it is like to take one small step, and one giant leap,” Dr Tucker said.
Attractions on the Moon Rock Trail can be visited independently in Canberra with locations available on Google Maps: bit.ly/MoonTrail.
The ANU is planning a day-long bus trip around all the destinations on Thursday, 18 July, with details for Canberra readers or visitors at this PS News link.
