We are currently in a time of unprecedented access to space, but what does this mean for humankind’s future on the moon?

Join renowned astronomer Fred Watson as he takes us on an entertaining and richly illustrated journey through the past, present and future of lunar exploration.

We are living through an extraordinary new era of space exploration, with vast satellite constellations, interplanetary probes and continuously crewed space stations transforming our access to space. Yet amid all this innovation are fascinating echoes of an earlier age.

Six decades ago, the Apollo missions captivated the world as humans first set foot on the Moon. Today, a new chapter is unfolding. NASA’s Artemis program has ambitions that reach far beyond Apollo’s famous “flags and footprints” — with the ultimate goal of establishing a sustained human presence on the Moon.

Fred unpacks how we got here, what is happening now, and what this remarkable new era of lunar exploration could mean for our future in space.

This lecture outlines both the threats and the opportunities that the new era brings to the world of skywatching worldwide.

Date: Saturday 8th May 2027

Time: 10am – 11am

Location: On the balcony at the Lord Howe Island Museum

Includes: A slice of cake and a cup of coffee from the Coral Cafe