40 years ago, on July 20, 1969, Humans first landed on the moon.

This image is developed from what is perhaps the most famous image from the moon landing. In it, Neil Armstrong takes a photo of Buzz Aldrin, and he and a leg of the lander are visible in the reflection off of Aldrins helmet.

So iconic is this photo, that when people want to pretend they are on the moon, they will naturally and unconsciously cock their arm at the particular angle Aldrin has it at here.

The three posters that are installed on that empty billboard have a kinda interesting story behind them. The billboard is located in a very Jewish area of NY. There were Hasidic Jews everywhere. That’s Hebrew on the posters underneath. I’ve been told that I look rather Jewish, I’ve been asked often if I am Jewish, I was asked a few days earlier in this trip, in fact. So I wasn’t worried about looking like an intruder to the neighborhood. But this spot was rather visible- and it was during the day- and I must have made a bit of a scene clambering up there and wobbling about putting these posters up- so I shouldn’t have been surprised when I made my way down a young Hasid made his way up to me and demanded to know what I was doing. I explained that these posters were to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first Moon Landing, and all animosity melted.

I then I wanted to engage him about Aldrin and Armstrong’s secret communion on the moon. Their ComMOONion.

Not many people know about it, but it pisses me off as an atheist (I had thought that the moon was religion-free, and rather liked the idea.) and I wondered how he would feel about it.

From The Christian Broadcasting Network:

A Communion Service on the Moon

Astronaut Aldrin may have gone down in history as the second person to step foot on the moon, but he does hold one unique distinction. He held the first communion service while he and Armstrong were on the moon.

The Washington Post reported that the service was not broadcast, because NASA was concerned about a lawsuit from atheist Madalyn Murray O’Hair.

Every year, since the moon landing, the Webster Presbyterian Church of Houston, Texas, commemorates Aldrin’s moon communion service. At that time, Aldrin sat with Armstrong in the Lunar Module, and pulled out his personal preference kit given to him by the Houston church. The kit contained bread, wine and a silver chalice.

“It’s kind of a tradition around here,” said the church’s Gene Fisseler. “It’s still church. It’s not about the moon. It’s not about the astronauts. It’s still about church. But we feel like it’s an important tradition here in this church.”

While taking communion on the moon, Aldrin read from the Bible’s New Testament. The scripture was John 15:5. It reads, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, and I in him, will bear much fruit, for you can do nothing without me.”

So I didn’t ask, It seemed to me like I might come off as goading him, or maybe even bragging; “My God Made It Too The Moon!”

But man, I bet he wouldn’t be pleased either.

HERE MEN FROM THE PLANET EARTH FIRST SET FOOT UPON THE MOON JULY 1969, A.D. WE CAME IN PEACE FOR ALL MANKIND, BUT ESPECIALLY CHRISTIANS.