Tranquility Base

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Tranquility Base was the name given by Astronaut Neil Armstrong to the landing site on the moon where the Apollo 11 Lunar Module Eagle landed. The lunar coordinates of Tranquility Base are 00°41′15″N, 23°26′00″W, which is located in the south-western corner of the lunar plain called the Sea of Tranquility (Mare Tranquillitatis) near the craters Sabine and Ritter, and a rille unofficially called 'U.S. Highway Number 1'.

Photograph of the plaque left at Tranquility Base (on the LM Descent Stage) commemorating the first manned lunar landing
Photograph of the plaque left at Tranquility Base (on the LM Descent Stage) commemorating the first manned lunar landing

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[edit] Spoken just after touchdown

Armstrong: "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed."

Capcom Charles Duke: "Roger, Twan... [correcting himself] Tranquility. We copy you on the ground. You got a bunch of guys about to turn blue. We're breathing again. Thanks a lot."

Source: NASA

[edit] IAU

Unlike most names bestowed on lunar landmarks by Apollo astronauts, the International Astronomical Union officially recognizes the designation 'Tranquility Base'. It is listed on lunar maps as Statio Tranquillitatis, in order to fit with the Latin names that are ubiquitous on lunar maps.

[edit] Links

In honor of the first manned Moon landing, which took place on July 20, 1969, Google added some NASA imagery to the Google Maps interface. [1]

[edit] In popular culture

[edit] External links


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