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NASA
Technical Report
R-277
"Chronological Catalog of Reported Lunar Events"
by Barbara M. Middlehurst
from Creationism Website
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In the 1960's the Cold War was white-hot with the US vs. USSR competing for international public recognition and applause. A pivotal part of this competition involved what became known as: "The Space Race." |
The USSR had rocketed Sputnik into orbit in October 1957, launching the Space Race. The US fumbled early on with a few live broadcasted, humiliating explosions on the launch pads. The Soviets led - putting the first man into space, then the first woman, soon followed by other impressive achievements!
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But during those early years, while still catching up, the US committed itself to put a man on the Moon by the end of the decade. This was successfully achieved in July of 1969 with the crew of Apollo 11.
It is estimated, by the way, that the first Moon landing was the single most viewed event in history up until then, with about 1 billion people from around the world watching their TVs as Neil Armstrong first set foot on the lunar surface.
But prior to the launch of Apollo 11, years of research and detailed considerations had been carefully sifted through, deliberated, and brought to culmination. Not much had been known about the Moon's surface or its internal composition. So a wide variety of research was done to try to understand everything that humans of the post-Flood world had learned about the Moon over the ages.
One important document was: NASA Technical Report R-277, "Chronological Catalog of Reported Lunar Events" published in July 1968 just one year prior to the first Moon landing. |
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(Shown at right - satellite view of the Earth; with the Moon visible below.) The Catalog (NASA TR R-277) from 1968 became the single most complete listing of all observed lunar anomalies that have been variously recorded by astronomers from 1500 until 1967.
This book (citing back to original publications) refers to over 450 years worth of notes recording a myriad of observations of unique or unusual phenomena seen on the lunar surface.
They include reports of seeing areas on the moon's surface with strange colors, streaks of light, the appearance of mists, or even possible volcanic activity.
The total number of unique (witnesses) observers is over 300 persons. The visible temporary lunar surface aberrations recorded down through the centuries total over 570! |
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Evolutionists cannot easily explain the continued geological activity evident within the astral bodies of our solar system. They believe that the Earth-Moon system is about 4.5 billion years old and that therefore the Moon must be geologically "cool" and "dead" by now. But 570 sightings made by over 300 individuals through the course of several centuries presents a radically different picture. Many of the listed sightings contend that there were actually multiple witnesses to certain observed recorded events. There is therefore good evidence that the Moon is geologically and/or meteorologically active.
Creationists recognize the hand of our Creator behind this complex, well ordered physical universe. Within this temporary physical incarnation for our souls, (Hebrews 9:27, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.") it is important for us to develop tools, explore and to understand the universe around us within a logical framework - which includes recognizing that it will all pass away by the hand of the same Creator who put it all into existence by his Word.
We as finite, small humans on the surface of an isolated bluish planet are only aware of some of the dimensions within the universe around us.
Wilbur & Orville Wright (above, 1904) - flew the world's first modern airplane in 1903 |
Apollo 11, July 1969 - Lunar Lander returning from the surface of the Moon |
Contents
According to "Young Earth" Creation theory - coal & oil were laid down en masse during the Year of the Flood (Genesis 7 & 8). These huge petrochemical reserves have allowed for our modern dependence on their availability. Since these reserves did not exist prior to the Flood (according to this theory) then ancient (pre-Flood) inventors would not have had them available. The internal combustion engine may not have been as quick to be developed as, for example, chemical fuel rockets.
In December 1903 the Wright Brothers flew the first modern airplane. Less than 66 years later, in July 1969 we sent 2 men to the Moon and back. Wilbur and Orville Wright, 2 sincerely religious brothers raised in Dayton, Ohio, repaired bicycles and tinkered with a number of related mechanical inventions. 2 key individuals with labor and patience invented modern flight. The Apollo Moon missions required the massive technology and financing of a great nation dedicated to seeing the missions through to their successful completion. But still, only a few key individuals at the core played the enormous roles in coordinating efforts and designing systems for accuracy and efficiency.
The time prior to the Great Flood was over 1600 years long. This span, theoretically speaking, would have allowed plenty of time for humans to have learned how to harness a multitude of technologies. Perhaps they invented types of bicycles ... or learned how to construct other mechanical devices...? Perhaps a few key persons prior to the Flood contrived the notion to try to escape Earth's gravitation and atmosphere. If your lifespan is expected to be over 900 years, there are a lot of long term projects that one could embark upon. There could have been (the equivalent of) rocketry clubs, or science projects with chemicals and mechanical devices, or experiments with fireworks; perhaps these would have looked somewhat different from what we have contrived today, but theoretically such an inventive environment could have come about in some locales during that long timeframe.
Evolutionists contend that if we "find life" anywhere else in our Solar System then this will be "proof" for evolution. But isn't there another possible explanation if residual life is actually found out there? Couldn't it instead be evidence that more accurately supports Creation Theory, that - humans have "always been intelligent, but often unwise"? Jupiter's moon, Callisto and the surface of Mars may hold secrets that we have not yet discovered. (Callisto images from JPL; a few appear to show "non-round" craters? 1 2 )
Craters litter the surface of the Moon, Mars, and other astral bodies. Were these (per evolutionists) made over a long period of time, once in a great while? Or do these testify to some sort of one-time(?) astral catastrophe? The craters are not evenly distributed. At least one Flood theory contends that it may have been a frozen cometary bombardment which catalyzed the beginning of the Great Flood. (See "The Biblical Flood and the Ice Epoch" by Donald W. Patten, ©1966.) Dry ice falling through cloud cover is one means that modern humans have learned to use for seeding clouds to make it rain.
For more information on the Moon from a creation science perspective see
"The Moon: Its Creation, Form and Significance"
by John C. Whitcomb and Donald B. DeYoung, ©1978.
Text by Paul Abramson
