Wow, this is pretty low. Someone stole portraits of Neil Armstrong from his hometown Post Office. Happily, Wapkoneta, Ohio police have recovered the portraits.
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The funniest thing about all this? The article linked above shows a picture of an astronaut on the Moon… and it’s Buzz Aldrin, not Armstrong. I would have loved to have seen the person trying to find a good picture of Armstrong for the article; there are no good still pictures of him on the Moon. Armstrong had the camera almost the whole time, so nearly all the pictures are of Buzz, and the few of Armstrong aren’t very good. There was a movie camera mounted on the lander that got shots of both of them doing things like setting up the flag, but that’s it. There are tons of publicity and training pictures of him, though.
Anyway, I wonder who stole the portraits, how they were recovered, and what the thief’s reasons were. The police have a suspect, but aren’t saying anything more. I’m not accusing anyone of anything, of course, but it’s hard to imagine someone with such screwed up ideas about Apollo that they would resort to doing something illegal like theft. I mean, gee, stalking an astronaut, trespassing on their property, accusing them of being brain washed, and slandering their integrity are one thing, but swiping a portrait! Sheesh!
[Update: As noted in the comments, at first I said there are no still pictures of Armstrong on the Moon, but I forgot about the very few Buzz took. That's what I get for trying to post something while fighting a computer that is acting up (grumble grumble Apple grumble). Still, my fault. Thanks to the commenters who pointed this out!]
January 11th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Actually, there are *several* still photographs of Neil on the Moon, it’s just that none of them are terribly good quality. The best one is probably this shot:
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/alsj/a11/AS11-40-5886.jpg
January 11th, 2009 at 11:12 am
There are a handful of 70 mm Hassemblad still pictures of Armstrong during the lunar EVA, such as AS11-40-5886 http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/alsj/a11/AS11-40-5886.jpg For more such pictures see http://www.apolloarchive.com
January 11th, 2009 at 11:12 am
There is actually one real hi-res photograph of Armstrong alone on the lunar surface – it’s here, and I’ve tracked down the original NASA statement about it: “This frame from Buzz’s plus-Z pan is the only good Hasselblad picture of Neil on the lunar surface. An enhanced detail shows Neil packing the bulk sample with an open rockbox on the MESA table.” There was a detailled article on the issue in the British magazine Spaceflight a long time ago.
January 11th, 2009 at 11:16 am
In other news:
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is now vertical at Cape Canaveral.
(Click my nick for pictures)
January 11th, 2009 at 11:16 am
Actually, there are *several* still photographs of Neil on the Moon, it’s just that none of them are terribly good quality. The best one is probably this shot:
AS11-40-5886
January 11th, 2009 at 11:19 am
There is one single image of Armstrong taken (accidetially, I suppose) by Buzz Aldrin while doing a larger pan. It shows Armstrong next to the ladder and from behind, IIRC. I can look up a link to this picture, if you like. Cheers, George
January 11th, 2009 at 11:25 am
AS11-40-5886 is about the only one I kow of. Any others discoverd by now?
January 11th, 2009 at 11:29 am
http://history.nasa.gov/alsj/a11/a11.40_5886hr.jpg
January 11th, 2009 at 11:38 am
I guess going on holiday with Buzz is a bit like me going on holiday with my missus.
January 11th, 2009 at 11:46 am
Of course it’s your fault. Silly mac-ophiles.
I’m sure they just wanted to get a close look to check whether or not Armstrong was a lizard-person.
January 11th, 2009 at 11:46 am
Phil Plait: “That’s what I get for trying to post something while fighting a computer that is acting up (grumble grumble Apple grumble).”
I’ve been having a similar problem with Internet Explorer 7; it always decides to have ‘one of its turns’ on a Sunday!
January 11th, 2009 at 11:48 am
I’m glad they got the pics back! BTW you committed blasphemy! Cursing an Apple computer? What is wrong with you?
January 11th, 2009 at 11:59 am
It’s a HOAX
January 11th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
I was wondering if someone could help me. Is it true that in 2012 the world will end? That it will get hit by an asteroid? or that the poles will switch? making us extinct like the dinosaurs…oh and that the government is hiding this from us? Thanks everyone in advance for your responses.
January 11th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Michael L Says:
“BTW you committed blasphemy! Cursing an Apple computer?”
More of a redundancy . .
January 11th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
I think the moon hoax was faked! I mean, have anyone ever seen a picture of Neil or Buzz in Nevada?
January 11th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
That’s what Phil gets for using an Apple *spits*, and that’s what IVAN3MAN gets for using IE7.
*Shakes head sadly* When will people ever learn.
January 11th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
According to Dick Underwood, NASA’s chief of photography during the Apollo missions, Buzz was angry about not being the first man on the moon and wouldn’t take any of Armstrong and that’s why there are no photographs of Armstrong on the moon.
January 11th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
@ gopher65,
FYI, I do have Firefox v3.0.5 installed on my computer; also, Safari v3.525.27.1 and Google Chrome v1.0.154.43.
It’s because I’m used to IE7 and have most of my bookmarks on it is the reason why I tend to use it most of the time.
January 11th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Hey. It’s not Neil’s fault, that Buzz is slow-dresser! Have you seen him tying his shoes? It’s like watching grass grow!
January 11th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Funny–I remember an astronaut who was recently accused of stalking her hapless victim–while wearing diapers!!!
January 11th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
@IVAN3MAN
Isn’t there a function in firefox to import the bookmarks from IE?
Btw: Probably the thief thought it were good paintings from the hoax-shooting…..
January 11th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
@ DrFlimmer,
Yes, but I have to first re-organize my bookmarks on IE7 because it takes me several minutes to scroll down it (yeah, that many) — Size: 1.59 Mb; 450 Folders; 5199 Files!
January 11th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
They should make the thief goes several rounds with Buzz Aldrin. Buzz will knock his lights out!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOo6aHSY8hU
January 11th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Thank Internet Gods for delicious dot com
January 11th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
>I was wondering if someone could help me. Is it true that in 2012 the world will end?
In a word: NO! NO! NO! NOOOOOO!
OK – that was 4, maybe 4.5, words.
January 11th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
C’mon Phil.
“I’m not accusing anyone of anything, of course, but it’s hard to imagine someone with such screwed up ideas about Apollo that they would resort to doing something illegal like theft.”
I can imagine someone who is really compelled by the moon landings and/or Armstrong doing the same thing. I can imagine simple greed as a motivator. Heck, if I pull out the stops I can imagine an Apollo fanboy astronomer hiring a sexy art thief wearing a skintight cat suit and stiletto…you get the point. You’re going all Fox News on us with this jump from a vague news item to an “I’m just say’in” slap at Bart Sibrel.
I wonder what kind of portraits these are. Paintings? Sketches? Photo portraits? Inquiring minds…
I also wonder what happened in Armstrong’s threatened lawsuit against the barber who sold the moon visitor’s hair clippings to a collector for three grand. If there’s a market for Armstrong’s hair at $3,000, those portraits would have to be worth a wad. http://www.boingboing.net/2005/06/01/neil-armstrong-may-s.html
January 11th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
bjn. Go up to the post again. Look at the bottom, where the tags are. See the one that says “humor”? Yup.
January 11th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Consult Agatha Christie’s novels, and the answer may be found!
That, or just phone the Doctor.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:59 am
@ Archie,
1) “Is it true that in 2012 the world will end?”
No. But to be extra certain, check your pulse at 00:01 (local time) on 1/1/2013.
2) “That it will get hit by an asteroid?”
We get hit by asteroids and comets, or at least little bits of them, all the time. So, yes, but not an earth-shattering experience. Very pretty to watch though.
3) “or that the poles will switch? making us extinct like the dinosaurs”
Extremely unlikely. But, again, check your compasses and pulse at the aforementioned time.
4) “…oh and that the government is hiding this from us?”
Well, that’s a tricky question. I’d say no. But I do work for the state government (NSW) here in Australia. So am I telling the truth or not? Of course I am (but then again I would say that, wouldn’t I?)(Or would I?).
Seriously now, what benefit is there to the government if it’s covering up doomsday? They know we’ve had it, they know the date, but they won’t tell us? Sure, it would stop everyone from topping themselves beforehand, or looting, or rioting, or overspending on their credit cards before we check out, but after doomsday date, who’s going to be around to care? The government in their secret bunker right next to the reverse-engineered alien technology? Who’s going to feed them? If they knew there was a doomsday coming up with even a tiny chance of survivability, they’d make sure there were enough people with them to grow crops and provide them with food and a sympathetic ear. So, no, no cover-up about doomsday.
@ everyone else
I realise that this is probably a gee-up.
January 12th, 2009 at 6:11 am
Thanks Mark
January 12th, 2009 at 9:30 am
My one real concern about this 2012 Doomsday “nonsense”: That someone may try to make it really happen to fulfill “prophecy”.
See the film 12 Monkeys.
January 12th, 2009 at 9:34 am
Well, the good news is that
1) People stupid enough to believe in “prophecies” aren’t smart enough to be able to destroy the world.
2) Destroying the world (or even just the humans on it) is remarkably hard. Even for bright people.
January 12th, 2009 at 9:45 am
You forgot the major offensive planned by the underwear gnomes on 12/31/12. Be sure your drawers are locked up good and tight.
January 12th, 2009 at 10:30 am
If you have ever been to Wapakoneta, you might think to see if it was a practicle joke by kids. When your high school is in the middle of a soy bean field, and your closest “big city” is Lima, OH you get bored fast.
January 13th, 2009 at 9:53 am
Lots of stuff to refute…the work never ends!
Buzz and Neil were feuding a bit at the time and it was over who gets to be the first footprinter on the surface… had this conversation with Dick Underwood.
The world will end…This is not where life ends or the moon departs or something. It’s a simple-minded absurdity precipitated from poor translations and a bit of superstition mixed together. My understanding of the new Age of Aquarius and the 2012 convergence/or end of the world is all just scary notation of our pathway through the universe; harmless in the physical sense; I suppose if your soul or spirit is closely tied to the constellation we are leaving, then you may feel something…? There aren’t brick walls ‘out there’ to stop our travel; just a lot of particles and energy that we blast right through. The revelation’s end of the world and rebirth is mostly due to our solar system change in position and how we view the other travelers(planets) among the other stars along the ecliptic. Anyway, all these changes happen slowly; the fastest metamorphosis will come from geologic activity right here: volcanic and chemical reactions…some will be triggered by global warming and cooling and some will be from SunSpot activity and other things new kids may discover; maybe The Asteroid will get us! I could be worried about that, really.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
The truly odd fact is that neither Neil or Buzz got their photos taken with their big beautiful blue Earth in the background.
A full Earth seen from the moon has
4 times the diameter,
16 times the area and
50 times the brightness
of a full moon seen from Earth.
And yet, they didn’t take the shot. They went all that way, enduring all that danger and didn’t get the shot.
Neither did the two moonwalkers of Apollo 12.
Neither did the two moonwalkers of Apollo 14.
Neither did the two moonwalkers of Apollo 15.
Neither did the two moonwalkers of Apollo 16.
It wasn’t until Apollo 17 that any astronaut on the surface of the moon got their photo taken with the Earth in the background. But even then, the photos they took are disappointing and strange.
It’s all too preposterous.
It was a hoax.
We don’t even have to go into the subject of nickel porous plate ice sublimators and their specs and startup procedures.