National Moon Day is observed on July 20, the anniversary of Apollo 11’s first crewed Moon landing in 1969. The United Nations General Assembly formally calls the observance International Moon Day; NASA’s public science page uses National Moon Day.
What is National Moon Day?
National Moon Day is a July 20 observance commemorating the first human landing on the Moon. NASA uses the name “National Moon Day” on its Moon science page. The United Nations General Assembly established an international observance called “International Moon Day” in resolution 76/76 in 2021.
The UN designation is the formal international observance. The sources cited here do not establish National Moon Day as a separate U.S. statutory holiday.
Why is it celebrated on July 20?
Apollo 11 landed on the Moon on July 20, 1969. NASA’s Apollo 11 mission account identifies Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin as the first people to walk on the lunar surface; Michael Collins remained in orbit around the Moon.
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The date of the observance marks that landing anniversary. The UN resolution declares July 20 International Moon Day “to observe each year at the international level the anniversary of the first landing by humans on the Moon on 20 July 1969 as part of the Apollo 11 lunar mission.”
Why celebrate beyond Apollo 11?
Apollo 11 is the reason for the date, but the UN’s stated purpose looks beyond a single mission or country. Resolution 76/76 calls for taking into consideration the achievements of all states in exploring the Moon and raising public awareness about sustainable lunar exploration and utilization.
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That makes July 20 an occasion both to remember a milestone in human spaceflight and to consider how lunar exploration is pursued and used in the future.
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How can you mark National Moon Day?
- Learn about Apollo 11 through NASA’s mission history and Moon education resources, including NASA Space Place’s Moon guide.
- Look for a July 20 program at a local museum, planetarium, or library; schedules vary by year and location.
- Explore public events and learning activities when NASA announces them. For the 55th anniversary in July 2024, NASA documented in-person, virtual, and other public engagement activities. These were anniversary-specific examples, not a recurring annual schedule; see NASA’s 2024 announcement and JPL’s anniversary education resources.
National Moon Day at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| When is it? | July 20 each year. |
| What does the date mark? | Apollo 11’s first crewed lunar landing on July 20, 1969. |
| What are the names used? | NASA’s public science page uses “National Moon Day”; the UN General Assembly designation is “International Moon Day.” |
| What is the UN observance for? | Recognizing achievements by all states in lunar exploration and raising awareness of sustainable Moon exploration and utilization. |
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