Super moon

It's rare to get a clear night in December, but last night we saw the enormous super moon rising in the east.  This morning the temperature is down in the 20's, but it should be a beautiful day when the sun finally comes up.  Sunrise is at 7:51, sunset at 4:18.  We're close to the shortest day of the year.

My friend Marianne and I are planning to take a short ride this morning and I'm looking forward to the ferry trip over to Vashon Island. The mountains are covered with snow almost down to sea level.

I just read on The Writer's Almanac that the last moon walk took place on this date in 1972.  Apollo 17 marked the end of the program that took 12 people to the surface of the moon.  

If only we had a moon walk to distract us now!  It's hard to imagine, but by the time the last mission launched on Dec. 7, 1972, public interest had declined.  (Ho-hum, just another flight to the moon.) The government had shifted focus to more important things like the Vietnam War.  Three more flights were planned, but the program was cancelled.