A few minutes ago, I read the MSNBC article and, just like you (and quite unlike p who thought other parts of the article where more important), I was struck by its very last sentence: The Moon is a beautiful place.

What does it mean, actually?
We remember Aldrin's quote "Magnificient Desolation".
The Moon is colorless, the contrast between the shadow and the sunlit areas is far too strong to our eyes, the mountains have very gentle slopes (to the point where it's difficult to judge whether or not you are on a slope) and the landscape is rocks, rocks, craters, craters and dust absolutely everywhere....And....supreme shame...No Stars! (at least on the sunlit side)
So why is it beautiful? what do we define as beautiful?
Is it the fact that they could see things at huge distances? (It's possibly in our genes as large desertic landscapes have fascinated mankind from the beginning: we see the danger from afar, it's reassuring; but forests have trees and every tree can hide an unseen danger; that's why witches live there and fairy tales always seem to happen in forests...)
Is it the extremely stricking contrast between the lively, colorful Earth and the deadly bland moon?
Is it just because it was a totally unfamiliar landscape?
I'm wondering what astronauts will think about Mars. Oh yes, I've been the the Grand Canyon and it IS an extremely beautiful site, but it isn't only red, it's colorful too and the sky is blue (well, normally:-). Mars is mainly red (well butterscotch), not just on the ground but also in the sky containing red dust. Red is associated with blood, war, revolution, and hell...
And the Earth is just a blueish light up there....
I don't quite know the answer; perhaps it's subjective and depends on each one of us.

Raoul