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Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Question 960

X died in a car accident while on the Tanami Road northwest of Alice Springs, Australia in July 1997. On July 31, 1999, some of his ashes were carried to the moon by the Lunar Prospector space probe in a capsule designed by Carolyn Porco. To date, he is the only person to have been buried on the Moon.

The brass foil wrapping of X's memorial capsule is inscribed with images of Comet Hale-Bopp, the Barringer Crater, and a quotation from Romeo and Juliet reading

"And, when he shall die
Take him and cut him out in little stars
And he will make the face of heaven so fine
That all the world will be in love with night
And pay no worship to the garish sun."

Identify X.
Answer: Eugene Shoemaker

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