Tomorrow marks the 50th anniversary of the first Moon landing on July 20, 1969. On this day, Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong became the first humans to land on the Moon. The Apollo missions included six Moon landings, with the last on December 14, 1972. To celebrate this accomplishment, enjoy these books available here at Danville Public Library.

Moonrise: The Golden Age of Lunar Adventures, edited by Mike Ashley

“Before the Apollo 11 mission succeeded in landing on the Moon in 1969, writers and visionaries were fascinated by how we might get there and what we might find. The Greeks and Romans speculated about the Moon almost two thousand years before H. G. Wells or Jules Verne wrote about it, but interest peaked from the late 1800s when the prospect of lunar travel became more viable. This anthology presents twelve short stories from the most popular magazines of the golden age of SF – including The Strand Magazine, Astounding Science Fiction and Amazing Stories – and features classic SF writers as well as lesser-known writers for dedicated fans of the genre to discover. Includes stories by Arthur C. Clarke, Judith Merril and John Wyndham.”–Provided by publisher.

American Moonshot: John F. Kennedy and the Great Space Race by Douglas Brinkley with Winifred Conkling

“July 20, 1969. It’s a day that has earned a spot in history. It’s the day that America was the first nation to succeed in sending two astronauts–Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong–to the moon. But what led to this unforgettable event? What were the stakes riding on the Apollo 11’s safe landing? In acclaimed author Douglas Brinkley’s first young readers’ edition, space fans will get the riveting and factual backstory of arguably the most significant achievement of the 20th century.”– Publisher’s website.

The Eagle Has Landed: 50 Years of Lunar Science Fiction, edited by Neil Clarke

“In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing, the endlessly-mysterious moon is explored in this reprint short science fiction anthology from award-winning editor and anthologist Neil Clarke (Clarkesworld, The Best Science Fiction of the Year). On July 20, 1969, mankind made what had only years earlier seemed like an impossible leap forward: when Apollo 11 became the first manned mission to land on the moon, and Neil Armstrong the first person to step foot on the lunar surface. While there have only been a handful of new missions since, the fascination with our planet’s satellite continues, and generations of writers and artists have imagined the endless possibilities of lunar life. From adventures in the vast gulf of space between the earth and the moon, to journeys across the light face to the dark side, to the establishment of permanent residences on its surface, science fiction has for decades given readers bold and forward-thinking ideas about our nearest interstellar neighbor and what it might mean to humankind, both now and in our future. The Eagle Has Landed collects the best stories written in the fifty years since mankind first stepped foot on the lunar surface, serving as a shining reminder that the moon is and always has been our most visible and constant example of all the infinite possibility of the wider universe”– Provided by publisher.

Mission Moon 3-D by David J. Eichner and Brian May

The story of the lunar landing and the events that led up to it, told in text and visually stunning 3-D images. July 2019 marks the fiftieth anniversary of Apollo 11’s epochal lunar landing, when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the surface of the moon. This visually rich book offers a new perspective on that historic accomplishment, telling the story of the lunar landing and the events that led up to it with text and 3-D images. A 3D viewer, designed by astrophysicist (and lead guitarist with the rock group Queen) Brian May is included with the book. Mission Moon 3-D offers unique access to the Apollo astronauts and what they saw. It tells the story of the US-Soviet space race, from Sputnik and the space dog Laika to Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy declared that America would put a man on the moon by the end of the decade. On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong guided the Eagle to a safe landing on the edge of the moon’s Sea of Tranquility. President Richard Nixon told the astronauts, and the nation, that it was “the greatest week in the history of the world since the Creation.” Mission Moon 3-D recounts all this and more in memorable and visually stunning fashion.

First Man: The Life of Neil Armstrong by James R. Hansen

On July 20, 1969, the world stood still to watch 38-year-old American astronaut Neil A. Armstrong become the first person ever to step on the surface of another heavenly body. Upon his return to Earth, Armstrong was celebrated for his monumental achievement. He was also–as NASA historian Hansen reveals in this authorized biography–misunderstood. Armstrong’s accomplishments as an engineer, a test pilot, and an astronaut have long been a matter of record, but Hansen’s access to private documents and unpublished sources and his interviews with more than 125 subjects (including more than fifty hours with Armstrong himself) yield the first in-depth analysis of this elusive, reluctant hero. Hansen recreates Armstrong’s flying career, from his combat missions over North Korea to his transatmospheric flights in the rocket-powered X-15 to the first-ever docking in space. For a pilot who cared more about flying to the Moon than he did about walking on it, Hansen asserts, Armstrong’s storied vocation exacted a dear personal toll, paid in kind by his wife and children.–From publisher description.

Moon’s First Friends: One Giant Leap for Friendship words by Susanna Leonard Hill, pictures by Elisa Paganelli

High up in the sky, the Moon has spent her whole life watching the happenings of Earth below, from dinosaurs roaming to planes taking flight, hoping for a visitor, until one day in 1969 when a spaceship soars from Earth. Includes Earth timeline and a history of space exploration.

Apollo to the Moon: A History in 50 Objects by Teasel Muir-Harmony

“A celebration of the 50th anniversary of NASA’s Apollo missions to the moon, this narrative uses 50 key artifacts from the Smithsonian archives to tell the story of the groundbreaking space exploration program. Bold photographs, fascinating graphics, and engaging stories commemorate the 20th century’s most important space endeavor: NASA’s Apollo program to reach the moon. From the lunar rover and an emergency oxygen mask to space food and moon rocks, it’s a carefully curated array of objects–complete with intriguing back stories and profiles of key participants. This book showcases the historic space exploration program that landed humans on the moon, advanced the world’s capabilities for space travel, and revolutionized our sense of humanity’s place in the universe. Each historic accomplishment is symbolized by a different object, from a Russian stamp honoring Yuri Gagarin and plastic astronaut action figures to the Apollo 11 command module, piloted by Michael Collins as Armstrong and Aldrin made the first moonwalk, together with the monumental art inspired by these moon missions. Throughout, Apollo to the Moon also tells the story of people who made the journey possible: the heroic astronauts as well as their supporters, including President John F. Kennedy, newsman Walter Cronkite, and NASA scientists such as Margaret Hamilton.”–Publisher’s website.

Margaret and the Moon: How Margaret Hamilton Saved the First Lunar Landing by Dean Robbins, illustrated by Lucy Knisley

Introduces the woman mathematician whose childhood love of numbers led to her prestigious education and contributions at NASA while explaining how her handwritten codes proved essential throughout numerous space missions.

Note: All book covers are from Google Images and all descriptions are from the SHARE Catalog.