earth, and look how small it is and how you can, you know, cover it up with your thumb. and you realize we were so fortunate to have a body that was in the proper position with the sun with the proper mass and everything to allow life to begin. >> with the world engrossed in apollo 8 epic journey, the astronauts marked the holiday season by taking turns reading from the old testament. >> god said let the waters under the heaven be gathered into one place and let the dry land appear, and it was so. and god called the dry land earth -- >> old testament is the basis of many of the world's religion, not just christian. so it affected most of people that would be listening to us, and we thought that was very appropriate. >> lovell relayed a sighting that delighted children worldwide. >> there is a santa claus. >> that's affirmative. >> just delay the christmas