It was Dec. 24, 1968 and because it was Christmas Eve, a lot of people were home watching TV. That might not happen today with the web, but back then, it was like the family fire place. You'd think nothing special would be on the tube on that night. But 56 years ago, every station had coverage of something no one in human history had ever seen - a live broadcast of the Earth from the crew of Apollo 8. 

It was a very short few minutes, in which the crew were told to say something profound. They read from Genesis, took a now famous shot now known as "Earthrise," and concluded with the words that still send shivers up my spine.

"From the crew of Apollo 8, we close with goodnight, good luck, a Merry Christmas, and God bless all of you, all of you, on the good Earth."

We take it for granted for now, but this was a spectacular achievement. And I don't think anyone who heard it that night has ever been able to forget it. 

Other events have since surpassed it, but at the time it was the most watched TV event in history.

On Christmas Eve 1968, millions watched the Apollo 8 astronauts broadcast from space