NATIONAL MOON DAY
Fast Facts
- WHEN
- Celebrated each year on July 20th
- WHY
- To commemorate the day man first walked on the moon in 1969
- ASTRONAUTS
- Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins
- VIBE
- Out-of-this world
NATIONAL MOON DAY
National Moon Day on July 20 commemorates the day man first walked on the moon in 1969. NASA reported the moon landing as being “...the single greatest technological achievement of all time.”
#NationalMoonDay
On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 carried the first humans to the moon. Six hours after landing on the moon, American Neil Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface. He spent two and a half hours outside the spacecraft. Buzz Aldrin soon followed, stepping onto the lunar surface. After joining Armstrong, the two men collected 47.5 pounds of lunar material. Their specimens would make the journey back to Earth to be analyzed. In the command module, a third astronaut waited. Pilot, Michael Collins, remained alone in orbit until Armstrong and Aldrin returned.
"One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
Neil Armstrong, Astronaut, Apollo 11
Caught up in the thrill of the adventure, millions of Americans watched the mission from Earth. Televisions around the world tuned in to the live broadcasts. The astronauts had a worldwide audience. National Moon Day doesn't just celebrate the landmark mission. It also celebrates future missions. Private expeditions are taking humans further into space. Armstrong's "one small step for man" inspired imaginations and sparked innovation, too, for generations to come. Even future moon missions are planned including manned landings.
Unquestionably, putting men on the moon became a tangible achievement in the space race. It placed the United States in a role to go forth and explore into the deeper reaches of the universe, too. In the months and decades that followed, NASA and the Soviets stepped up their missions.
You can also celebrate the day by reading books or watching documentaries about the Apollo 11 mission or those leading up to it:
Moon Reading List
In the Shadow of the Moon (2007)
Directed by David Sington
First to the Moon: The Journey of Apollo 8 (2018)
Directed by Paul J. Hildebrant
One Giant Leap: The Impossible Mission That Flew Us to the Moon
Written by Charles Fishman
A Man on the Moon: The Voyages of the Apollo Astronauts
Written by Andrew Chaikin
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL MOON DAY
National Moon Day opens up a lot of opportunities to explore and reminisce! Did you watch the first moon landing in 1969? How about the ones that followed?
-
Share your memories of the moon landing with friends and family. Tell them what it felt like to watch such an extraordinary event.
-
Set up your telescope and explore the moon's surface. You can even explore the surface with a telephoto lens.
-
Start a discussion about space exploration. How does it impact our world today? Study the plans for future moon landings, too. What are your thoughts on more moon exploration?
-
Discover the people behind the moon landing. Learn their personal stories and celebrate their achievements.
-
Join the conversation about the moon on social media using the hashtag #NationalMoonDay.
NATIONAL MOON DAY HISTORY
In 1971, President Richard Nixon proclaimed National Moon Landing Day on July 20th to honor the anniversary of man's first moon landing. However, no continuing resolution followed.
Enter Richard Christmas. He took up the baton by launching a "Chrismas Card" writing campaign. The Michigan native wrote to governors and members of Congress in all 50 states urging them to create National Moon Day. He achieved some success, too. By July of 1975, 12 states sponsored bills observing Moon Day.
Another modern-day supporter of National Moon Day is Astronomer James J. Mullaney. He knows a few things about the moon, too. As a former Curator of Exhibits and Astronomy at Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium, Mullaney is on a mission. He says, "If there's a Columbus Day on the calendar, there certainly should be a Moon Day!" His goal is a federally recognized holiday.
In 2019, President Donald Trump proclaimed July 20th as the 50th Anniversary Observance of the Apollo 11 Lunar Landing. However, no National Moon Day has been declared.