Buzz Aldrin and Erich von Daniken

[abraxas]

I saw this on Facebook this morning.

Andrew Collins

8h15:9im · Boulder, CO, United States

I held the most incredible thing today. The first watch to ever reach the moon. It was given to Erich von Daniken (pictured) by Buzz Aldrin in exchange for the millionth copy of Erich's eternal book Chariots of the Gods. How cool!

— at Saint Julien

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=...00782229952068

I've personally known Andy (Andrew Collins) for over thirty years. Anyway, also check the comments on Andy's post.

Buzz Aldrin & The Missing Moon Watch
We hear from the astronaut on his adventures in time-telling...
https://www.countryandtownhouse.com/...a-speedmaster/



Ancient Aliens Speedy Sighting
https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/a...hting.5179801/

It's the same watch with the missing top pusher.

[monogroover]

What an amazing thing to have. There must be at least one other watch with an equal claim to being the first to reach the Moon, though. Just googled it and this one does:

https://airandspace.si.edu/collectio...m_A19731247000

[Mr Curta]

What an amazing thing to have. There must be at least one other watch with an equal claim to being the first to reach the Moon, though. Just googled it and this one does:

https://airandspace.si.edu/collectio...m_A19731247000

No, there’s only one and it wasn’t Armstrong’s

[monogroover]

Thanks. To me, the inescapable inference of what you say is that only Aldrin was provided with a wristwatch, which I don't think is correct - so I must be missing some subtle nuance somewhere.

Thinking about it, wristwatches worn on the Apollo 8 mission have a tenuous claim to having reached the Moon.

[Eamon]

My understanding is that Armstrong left his watch in the lunar Lander (i.e didn't wear it on the moon surface) and Aldrins watch went missing on its way to the Smithsonian

Sent from my SM-S901B using Tapatalk

[abraxas]

What an amazing thing to have. There must be at least one other watch with an equal claim to being the first to reach the Moon, though. Just googled it and this one does:

https://airandspace.si.edu/collectio...m_A19731247000

Armstrong's watch was left behind on the spacecraft's instrument panel so it never made it to the moon's surface.

Sorry Eamon, I did not see your post.

[abraxas]

My personal feeling is that Aldrin must have given von Daniken "a Speedy" that he was wearing with the words... "the first watch on the moon" and von Daniken must have thought that it was the actual watch.

[monogroover]

Armstrong's watch was left behind on the spacecraft's instrument panel so it never made it to the moon's surface.

Thanks! That makes sense. I think it did reach the Moon, all the same. But certainly being worn out and about on the surface gives Aldrin's Speedy a special distinction.

[in_denial]

I seem to recall reading that Armstrong's Speedmaster's crystal popped off, so he left it in the LEM when he stepped out onto the surface.

[abraxas]

I seem to recall reading that Armstrong's Speedmaster's crystal popped off, so he left it in the LEM when he stepped out onto the surface.

A timer was malfunctioning and Armstrong's watch was being used as a backup and they didn't want to risk taking both the watches to the surface so it was left behind during the walks.

[in_denial]

A timer was malfunctioning and Armstrong's watch was being used as a backup and they didn't want to risk taking both the watches to the surface so it was left behind during the walks.

Thanks! That is the line taken in Omega's Speedmaster book (just checked my copy) I guess the other story is one put about by R*lex fanboys ;-)

[5avvy]

I seem to recall reading that Armstrong's Speedmaster's crystal popped off, so he left it in the LEM when he stepped out onto the surface.

That’s David Scott’s crystal - Apollo 15.

[Mr Curta]

That’s David Scott’s crystal - Apollo 15.

Which seemed rather convenient...

[5avvy]

Which seemed rather convenient...

Indeed

[Raffe]

My understanding is that Däniken is a convicted criminal and his books were ghostwritten by a former editor of the NSDAP newspaper "Völkischer Beobachter". His completely made up theories of ancient astronauts and alien visitors to earth have been rejected by anyone from the world of science.

Why anyone would believe a word he says is completely beyond me.