To a Rocky Moon: A Geologist’s History of Lunar Exploration

The Moon, which has always ruled Earth’s nights, was first viewed by telescope in 16°9, first touched by machines in 1959, and first visited by human beings in July 1969. .
It was the object of intense scrutiny for the quarter of a century centered on that incredible visit and its five successors. It may become so again. In the meantime it has receded into its ancient roles as raiser of the tides and keeper of the months. Those of us who played a role in exploring it should now write down what we remember and what we can reconstruct from the record as a guide for the next generation of lunar explorers.