PHOTOGRAPHERS are being asked to help a famous Cheshire landmark commemorate 50 years since the first Moon landing.

A team at Jodrell Bank, near Goostrey, monitored and captured the famous events on July 21, 1969 – 200,000 miles away from the Apollo 11 Eagle lander module carrying legendary astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.

Led by Sir Bernard Lovell, the Jodrell Bank team used their 50ft telescope to capture when Armstrong took manual control of the lander to fly it down onto the lunar surface.

Sir Bernard Lovell was quoted on 21 July 1969 as saying: “The moment of touchdown was one of the moments of greatest drama in the history of man. The success in this part of the enterprise opens the enormous opportunities for the future exploration of the universe.”

Knutsford Guardian:

Now, 50 years on, Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre is inviting everyone to celebrate the anniversary of the iconic Moon landing via an exciting mass-participation photography challenge, #CaptureTheMoon.

To join in, simply take a photograph of the Moon and share it with Jodrell Bank on social media.

Use the hashtag #CaptureTheMoon and be sure to include the location of where the photo was taken in the text of your social media post.

For a full lunar cycle starting from the full Moon on June 17, through to July 21 – exactly 50 years since the Moon landing – the Discovery Centre team will monitor Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to find your images.

They’ll then select a series of #CaptureTheMoon photos to display on their website and in a temporary exhibition at the Centre throughout August this year.

“The Moon landing was a huge milestone in humanity’s quest to understand more about our closest celestial neighbour and Jodrell Bank’s role in capturing the event is an important part of our shared history,” said Professor Teresa Anderson, director of Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre.

“The Moon is Earth’s only permanent natural satellite and is the largest and brightest object in the night sky.

Knutsford Guardian:

"Waxing and waning in an endless cycle, our Moon is a familiar and comforting sight for many of us and has long inspired a sense of curiosity and wonder.

"It has come to represent many things for different people and cultures here on Earth and we’re really excited to see how the public choose to the #CaptureTheMoon in their photographs.”

See jodrellbank.net/capturethemoon for more.

The Discovery Centre is also keen to capture memories of the Moon landing and are asking the public if they were at Jodrell Bank during this historic moment.

If you have a story to share, get in touch with the Discovery Centre on 01477 571766 or by e-mailing Jodrell.visitor.centre@manchester.ac.uk