It is almost time for the Mid-Autumn festival, one of the most important and oldest cultural festivals celebrated today. Worshipping the moon has been practiced by many cultures the world over. Even scientists do, those of us whose curiosity has been captured by the cosmos; often the first glimpse we get of the vastness of space is the moon. It’s hardly coincidence that Chang’e is both the name of the goddess of the moon and the CNSA’s lunar exploration program.
The moon has always been a beacon to humanity, guiding its imagination and its scientific exploration, acting as a catalyst for our stories, our art, and our understanding of Earth’s place in the solar system, indeed the universe. As we gather with family to gaze at the moon and contemplate its beauty, and look for Chang’e’s rabbit companion in its reflected light, we can think also of what the moon represents to us both individually and as inhabitants of Earth. And of course, we will eat mooncakes.
Please share some of your favorite Mid-Autumn festival traditions, your fondest memories of moon gazing with your loved ones, and your favorite flavors of mooncakes. Especially the mooncakes.
中秋佳节，这个重要而古老的文化节日，就在眼下了。全世界很多文化都有赏月的习俗。科学家也赏月——当我们的好奇心被茫茫宇宙吸引时，通常，我们在浩瀚宇宙中第一眼看到的是月亮。因此，嫦娥既是古老传说，也是中国航天局的探索工程，估计不是偶然。
月亮自古以来一直是人类的明灯，它照亮我们的思维殿堂和科学探索之路。月亮丰富我们的故事，启发我们的艺术，帮助我们了解地球在太阳系以及在宇宙中的角色。今晚，当我们合家团圆、赏月吟诗、寻找嫦娥和玉兔的身影时，不妨也细细体味下，月亮，作为个体以及地球“居民”之一，代表的涵义。当然啦，吃月饼是必不可少的环节。
请和我分享你最喜欢的中秋传统，你和心爱的人一起赏月的美好回忆，还有最爱的月饼口味。特别是月饼口味，这个比较重要。
