From Apollo to alien worlds: 4 'firsts' you can spot in the night sky tonight

Humanity's exploration of the cosmos is a tale of incredible firsts, discoveries driven by a scientific curiosity that has shaped our understanding of the universe and, ultimately, our place within it. Join us as we show you where four incredible scientific "firsts" unfolded in the northern hemisphere night sky, ranging from our species' earliest steps on another world, to the first telescopic discovery of a moon by one of history's greatest astronomers and more. Each target is accompanied by a handy graphic to help point the way. However, if you're unfamiliar with the post-sunset realm, then you may benefit from checking out our guide to the best astronomy smartphone apps , many of which help point the way to specific stars using augmented reality technology. 1 - The first steps on the moon Apollo 11 set down on the moon and established Tranquility Base on July 20, 1969, marking the first time in history that humans had landed and set foot on the surface of another world. It remains one of the most impressive technological achievements in humanity's short history — one that NASA and its partners are struggling to repeat in the modern day with its Artemis program , decades later. Buzz Aldrin stands in front of the U.S. flag on the surface of the moon. (Image credit: NASA) The Apollo 11 landing site is far too small to spot from Earth . …