On the occasion of the eightieth anniversary of the liberation of the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp in Oświęcim, Poland, a crater on Luna, Earth’s Moon, has been designated to honor a survivor of the camp – Eliezer “Elie” Wiesel, who devoted his life to preserving the memory of atrocities committed by Nazis and their allies during the second World War.

Elie Wiesel (1928–2016) was a Holocaust survivor whose life and work transformed the global conversation on memory, human rights, and the imperative to confront injustice. Born in Sighet, Romania, Wiesel endured the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps during World War II – a tragedy he would later recount in his seminal memoir, Night.

This work not only captured the unspeakable atrocities of the Holocaust but also served as a rallying cry for the importance of remembrance and education, ensuring that future generations never forget the depths of human cruelty and the resilience of the human spirit [1].

Elie Wiesel (Portrait)
Elie Wiesel

Beyond his literary achievements, Wiesel was an ardent activist and moral philosopher. He devoted much of his life to speaking out against oppression, genocide, and the erosion of civil liberties worldwide.

His tireless advocacy for human rights earned him numerous accolades, most notably the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986, which recognized his efforts to bring the plight of the oppressed to the forefront of global consciousness [2].

Wiesel’s voice, imbued with the gravity of his experiences, continues to serve as a moral compass for individuals and governments alike.

Photo Map of Crater Elie Wiesel on the Moon
Photo map of Crater Elie Wiesel, formerly Euclides D, in the Mare Cognitum on Luna, Earth’s Moon.

In a symbolic tribute to his enduring legacy, the former Euclides D crater on the Moon has been renamed in honor of Elie Wiesel. This designation is especially poignant given the crater’s controversial past: it was once named for Hans Eppinger, Jr., a Nazi doctor notorious for his inhumane medical experiments during World War II. Eppinger’s actions, which epitomized the cruelty and disregard for human dignity characteristic of the Nazi regime, rendered his legacy indefensible in the eyes of the international community [3].

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) originally designated the crater for Eppinger, but in 2002, following an inquiry submitted by the International Lunar Geographic Society, the IAU removed his name from the lunar feature. This decision was part of a broader effort to ensure that lunagraphic nomenclature honors those whose legacies contribute positively to human knowledge and values, rather than memorializing figures associated with atrocity and inhumanity [4].

Renaming the crater in honor of Elie Wiesel not only rectifies a historical misstep, but also reinforces the commitment to remembering the victims of oppression and celebrating those who have dedicated their lives to advocating for justice and humanity.

Certificate proclaiming designation of a lunar crater to honor Elie Wiesel (image)

References

[1] Wiesel, E. (2006). Night. Hill and Wang.
[2] United Nations. (1986). Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony Speech. Retrieved from https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1986/wiesel/lecture/
[3] Browning, C. R. (1992). Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland. Harper Perennial.
[4] International Astronomical Union. (2002). IAU Bulletin on Lunar Nomenclature Revisions. Retrieved from https://www.iau.org/publications/bulletins/

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