This is true of many things, though the subtitle should likely be, “unless you choose to ignore it” because doubtless many will. It’s much easier to cast doubt (as the Republicans repeatedly demonstrate these days) than to reassure. There have been many claims that the lunar landings never took place, most recently by Tracy Morgan, the comedian who came to fame on Saturday Night Live. That wonderful series Myth Busters dedicated an entire show to disproving the doubters, an effort which, I thought, put the matter entirely to rest. But now NASA has done what nobody else can do: produced photographic evidence. They say a picture speaks louder than words, and it’s true:

Of this picture, NASA says,

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera team earlier released two pictures of the Apollo 11 landing site, each taken under different lighting conditions and at lower resolution than this image. This is LROC’s first picture of Apollo 11 after LRO dropped into its 50 km mapping orbit. At this altitude, very small details of Tranquility Base can be discerned. The footpads of the LM are clearly discernible. Components of the Early Apollo Science Experiments Package (EASEP) are easily seen, as well. Boulders from West Crater lying on the surface to the east stand out, and the many small craters that cover the moon are visible to the southeast.

And you can even see what looks like footprints trailing away from the landing site. An incredible window into the past. You can find the other photos here, at the NASA site.

Given how many hours I spent as a child sitting up in front of that black and white TV watching the space missions and lunar landings, I just wanted to share this here and enjoy the serving up of some real humble pie to all the doubters who probably still think it was somehow faked. But then there are those who have convinced themselves that Thomas Jefferson was some sort of modern-day Pentecostal Christian, so what can you do? If you don’t want to be convinced, you won’ be. It’s much easier to doubt after all.