With a population of just over 5,000, the French village of Nuit-Saint-Georges may be small, but it has a significant connection to the moon. It is the birthplace of famed 19th-century astronomer Felix Tisserand, after whom the Tisserand crater on the moon was named. The village also has ties to French novelist Jules Verne, who wrote “From the Earth to the Moon” and mentioned Nuit-Saint-Georges wine in the book.
Years later, during the Apollo 15 mission, astronauts passing through the village were gifted a wine called Cuvee Terre Lune, inspiring them to name a crater after the town. Today, the square in front of the city hall is called Place du Cratere Saint-Georges.
A new project, Sanctuary on the Moon, aims to establish a lunar time capsule with the support of NASA, UNESCO, and the French government. The project was founded by Benoit Faiveley, a native of Nuit-Saint-Georges. The time capsule will contain 24 discs made of sapphire, each packed with information about various realms of knowledge. These discs will be launched to the moon as part of the Artemis mission in 2028. The goal is to preserve information for future generations, using a simple yet durable format that can withstand the test of time.