Launceston astronomer Martin George has seen some amazing things in his studies of space, but nothing comes close to the excitement of July 21, 1969.
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"I can remember watching with a huge crowd of school mates on a tiny little black and white TV stuck in one corner of the room," he said.
"To think that was 50 years ago, and that we didn't return to the moon after 1972, is really quite amazing."
The moon landing was the culmination of a decade of space exploration from the Mercury and Gemini missions, to the Soviet space program, creating a generation fascinated by the stars.
Mr George said there had been nothing like it since, but the 50th anniversary was an opportunity for a new generation to be marvelled - and to look to the future of space travel.
For The Examiner's Winter Relief Appeal, Star Theatre will show a special screening of the documentary Apollo 11 on July 17 - the night before its Australian release. The film has been produced to celebrate the anniversary with never-before-seen footage.
Mr George will speak to the audience afterwards, before a screening of the classic Australian film The Dish.
All proceeds from the event go to the Winter Relief Appeal.
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Mr George said the anniversary came at a time when humankind was once again looking to space.
"Very recently, the United States announced a plan to get people back to the moon by 2024," he said.
"In my view, it's to learn again what it's like to get to the moon because it's been so long. And it's also to establish a potential permanent lunar base, to establish a spacecraft in lunar orbit like a lunar space station in order to have a craft from which people can drop down to the surface and come back again.
"Another major initiative here is to land a woman on the moon."
The Apollo 11 screening is part of Star Theatre's Moon Film Festival when six films on moon exploration will be filmed over a week.
Co-owner Ben Davis said the theatre had run films to celebrate anniversaries before, but this was one of its first festival events.
The Examiner Winter Relief Appeal screening will begin at 6pm on Wednesday, July 17. For more information visit startheatre.com.au
The appeal has already raised $30,621 for Northern Tasmanian charities St Vincent de Paul, the Benevolent Society, Salvation Army and City Mission.
To donate, visit The Examiner office in Cimitiere Street or other participating businesses.
You can also donate by direct transfer via BSB 035-822 and account 011443537, or with BPAY biller number 49429, reference 3800 0305190 0144 3537 8.