NASA – Michael G. Neece, Author

I Write… Children’s Books?

One of the most surprising events this year has been my unexpected excitement about writing a children’s book called When Astronauts Came to Town. This desire overwhelmed my creative energy already committed to creating books for adults about this same Morehead Planetarium history. It’s my kids who made it inevitable. Helping them grow up means a constantContinue reading “I Write… Children’s Books?”

Charlie Duke’s Return to Chapel Hill

Charlie Duke with Morehead staff on February 22, 2019

(Photos Courtesy of UNC Wilson Library’s Durham Herald-Sun Photographic Collection) From 1968 to 1972, humans repeatedly went to the Moon, venturing there nine times and landing on it successfully six times. In practical terms, it means that 2018 to 2022 is a period of celebration and reflection for all of us as we look backContinue reading “Charlie Duke’s Return to Chapel Hill”

Tonight at The Frontier

Update: Check out the replay here: https://video.unctv.org/video/rtp-180-outer-space-michael-neece-5xtrqn/ Update: Thanks to everyone who showed up or who streamed this live. A replay link will be provided soon for anyone who missed it or who wants to hear about it again. Previous: Tune in to stream my five-minute version of what happened when astronauts came to ChapelContinue reading “Tonight at The Frontier”

Apollo Astronaut Alan Bean has died

Al Bean with Tony Jenzano at Morehead Planetarium, 1970Feb01, courtesy of Carol Jenzano, copyright 2018

Chapel Hill, NC May 26, 2018 by Michael G. Neece The fourth man to walk on the surface of the moon, Alan Bean, took ill on May 11 and today has died. It was widely misreported that he died yesterday, and as much as this writer wishes this were a continuation of misreporting, it sadlyContinue reading “Apollo Astronaut Alan Bean has died”

Unsung Heroes get to Sing out

Sheet Film 24023: Morehead Planetarium: Tony Jenzano, Major Gordon Cooper, Commander Alan Shepherd, Dr. Jocelyn Gill, Dr. Franklin Roach, William Huch, 6 April 1963: Scan 1, in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Photographic Laboratory Collection #P0031, North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

While writing a book about astronaut heroes coming to Chapel Hill to train at Morehead Planetarium, it would be easy to overlook contributions of some hidden heroes, like Dr. Jocelyn Gill (fourth figure from the left in the photo above, between Gordon Cooper and Alan Shepard). With her experience at MIT and her PhD fromContinue reading “Unsung Heroes get to Sing out”