To the Moon
NASA’s April 2026 crewed lunar flyby was the first of the Artemis missions, named after the twin sister of this ancient Greek god.
Who is Apollo? The Artemis lunar missions are named in a clever nod to their predecessor, the Apollo lunar missions of the 1960s and early ’70s.
You’ll trade your bagels for freshly baked giant croissants when you visit this country.
What is France? Visitors delight in the wide variety of French pastries: gougères, bite-sized pastry puffs filled with cheese, eclairs, and many more.
This is the French word for “thank you.”
What is merci? “No thank you” is non, merci.
The American Civil War
What are the 1860s? It lasted four years, from 1861 to 1865. It was the bloodiest American war, claiming more than 620,000 casualties.
You can catch reruns of this drama starring Jack Klugman, playing the role of a medical examiner.
What is Quincy, M.E.? In the show, Quincy’s results rarely match police assumptions about the cause of death.
In the northern hemisphere, this meteorological season begins September 1.
What is autumn (or fall)? Meteorological fall is based on the calendar. Astronomical fall, or what we might call the season of fall, begins on the fall equinox, when day and night are equal in length.
The Artemis II mission flew by this location, marking the first time that certain parts of it, including the Orientale basin, had been seen in full sunlight by human eyes.
What is the dark (far) side of the moon? We cannot see this side of the moon from Earth, and previous crewed lunar missions saw the dark side in lighting that left parts in full darkness.
Pack your bags for Peru to visit this place, the ruins of the Inca Empire.
What is Machu Picchu? High in the Andes Mountains, it is believed that this agricultural civilization housed between 300 and 1,000 people 600 years ago.
Gracias means “thank you” in this language.
What is Spanish? If you visit Barcelona, you will occasionally hear people saying merci instead of gracias.
American Counterculture Era
What are the 1960s? It began in the 1960s and influenced the United States, Canada, and Western Europe. Hippies, a music revolution, and rebelling against conventional norms characterized this era.
When exposed to a highly contagious disease that poses a threat to the community, people are isolated under this order, which restricts their movement.
What is quarantine? Isolation refers to separating the infected person from others. In severe outbreaks, it can include shutting down ports of entry.
When we were in school, this event took place on the first Tuesday of September in many states.
What is first day of the school year? Now, school starts as early as July in states such as New Mexico.
The crew of Artemis II returned home by splashing down in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of this city.
What is San Diego? After Apollo 17 and until 2011, the space shuttle was used as the vehicle for travel, and it landed like an airplane.
Stonehenge is located in this country.
What is England? This group of massive ancient stones, known as a megalith, is arranged in a circle. It likely served as a ceremonial, ritual, and astronomical site for the ancient people who constructed it.
You can say mahalo to thank someone on these islands.
What are the Hawaiian Islands? Mahalo is also used to show gratitude or respect.
NASA established
What are the 1950s? NASA was founded in 1958 during the Eisenhower administration in response to the Soviet Union’s space exploration program.
You never want to stumble across this type of sand.
What is quicksand? Quicksand is common sand that has been saturated with water. If you struggle, you will sink into it. Quicksand is denser than your body, so the best strategy is to relax and let your body float to the top.
September is the month the playoffs begin and lead to this sport’s grand finale.
What is baseball? The championship series in Major League Baseball is the World Series.
The crew of Artemis II included the first non-U.S. citizen astronaut to fly to the moon, mission specialist Jeremy Hansen, who is from this country.
What is Canada? Hansen is a colonel in the Royal Canadian Air Force and an astronaut with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
Roughly 40 miles from Naples, you can explore this fabled Italian coastline.
What is the Amalfi Coast? Walk along the Terrace of Infinity, spend a day on the beach, visit the ceramic shops along Corso Umberto, and stroll along Sentiero dei Limoni, or “The Path of Lemons.” Amalfi is world-renowned for its lemons; must-haves include its lemonade and lemon desserts.
When in Portugal or this South American country, Obrigado and obrigada mean “thank you.”
What is Brazil? Obrigado is Portuguese, the language spoken in only one South American country. Typically, men say obrigado and women say obrigada. Portuguese is also spoken in several countries in Africa.
The Hindenburg disaster
What are the 1930s? The hydrogen-filled German Zeppelin airship LZ 129 Hindenburg exploded into flames before landing in Lakehurst, New Jersey. The tragedy ended transatlantic travel by airship. It claimed 36 casualties.
Women’s AAAA shoes are known as this width, a term that also refers to skates with two front rollers and two back rollers.
What is quad? Also known as 4A, it’s the narrowest shoe width, and styles are limited.
On September 21, 1967, taping began for this famous children’s TV program, in which every episode begins with the host singing “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”
What is Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood? The iconic show features host Fred Rogers and his many friends, including Mr. McFeely, Lady Elaine Fairchilde, and a red trolley.
The astronauts on the latest mission sent photos of this sun-blocking phenomenon.
What is a solar eclipse? During the in-space solar eclipse, Artemis II saw Earth blocking the sun, a solar eclipse from the spacecraft’s perspective.
In Verona, Italy, visitors gather at a medieval house linked by legend to this Shakespearean heroine, leaving notes near the balcony and wall that now bear her name.
Who is Juliet? If you post a note to Juliet at Verona’s Casa di Giulietta, volunteers will reply to you in her name.
Danke means “thank you” in this language.
What is German? In addition to Germany, the language is often spoken in Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein, as well as portions of Italy and Poland.
Debut of the first full-length feature film with sound
What are the 1920s? In 1927, The Jazz Singer premiered in New York City and transformed the film industry.
This is the word for a dilemma or a state of uncertainty.
What is quandary? A common ethical quandary is whether to tell the truth or tell a little white lie.
On September 18, 1970, the world lost a visionary in this guitarist and singer, famous for songs including “Purple Haze” and “The Wind Cries Mary.”
Who is Jimi Hendrix? Hendrix said “Purple Haze” was inspired by a dream in which he was walking under the sea.
The Artemis II mission set the record for the greatest distance ever traveled by humans in space, breaking the previous record, which was held by this mission.
What is Apollo 13? The crew traveled 252,756 miles from Earth, breaking Apollo 13’s record by more than 4,000 miles.
In the ancient abandoned city of Petra in this country, you will find buildings carved exquisitely into rose-colored sandstone.
What is Jordan? The most breathtaking edifice is the Treasury (Al-Khazneh), and nearby is the massive Petra Amphitheater. Visiting the site requires hiking on steep terrain. For the fit, this is a site not to be missed.
Use this hand to say thank you in American Sign Language.
What is your dominant hand? With a flat hand, touch your mouth with your fingertips and move your hand slightly forward and down, away from your face.
The Long March, led by Mao Zedong
What are the 1930s? The Long March was a retreat of the Red Armies during the Chinese Civil War. Due to the retreat, the Communist revolutionary base was moved from southeast China to northwest China, and it influenced many young Chinese to join the Communist Party.
To stand in line is to do this.
What is queue? This term can be used as a noun or a verb and is most often used in the Northeast and the United Kingdom.
These medium-hot, protein-on-a-platter snacks make their way into many a Sunday football gathering.
What are (buffalo) chicken wings? The traditional version of the chicken wing platter is served with blue cheese dipping sauce to tame the heat and add another layer of flavor.