The Moon: A World Away, Not a World Apart

If you thought the Moon was been-there-done-that, think again. With a surface area about the size of Africa and just recently being mapped in high resolution, new views are revealing a fascinating geologic story. Learn about the geology of the Moon and lunar exploration past, present, and future along with Arizona’s role in humanity’s greatest adventure with former NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Mission Operations Research Analyst. In addition to lunar exploration and geology, learn about Arizona’s deep connection to the exploration and understanding of the Moon from Apollo astronauts training in northern Arizona’s unique geologic setting to NASA’s LRO being operated at Arizona State University. With the upcoming NASA Artemis mission to send astronauts back to the moon, an international space community ,and the potential prospects of the private sector for space tourism and planetary resources, it is an exciting time for the Moon beckoning a future return.

Danny Foley is a geologist who has earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in geology and geography from Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University (NAU).  He is an active scientific researcher who has worked in various geoscience roles including for NASA in planetary geology and as an instructor of geology and geography in higher education at various colleges such as NAU and Grand Canyon University. He has never met a rock he didn’t like with his field work having taken him to remote corners of the world from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Danny is interested in better understanding our dynamic world and how geologic processes and materials work in an overall system. 

This program is presented with funding from Friends of the Prescott Public Library.