April marked a historic moment as NASA’s Artemis II mission successfully orbited the Moon for the first time in over five decades. On Saturday, Sept. 19, the public is invited to engage with NASA’s lunar activities nationwide, including the International Observe the Moon Night celebration at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Visitor Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
Since its inception in 2010, International Observe the Moon Night has united global participants through lunar observations, educational workshops, creative projects, and cultural expressions. This year’s Goddard event emphasizes NASA’s continued lunar research, offering insights into Artemis II’s mission milestones and the scientific contributions of Goddard’s teams in advancing our understanding of the Moon, the solar system, and space exploration.
The evening event, running from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. EDT, features interactive demonstrations, hands-on crafts, and photography opportunities. telescopes available weather permitting will allow attendees to observe lunar features, while the Visitor Center showcases a genuine Apollo 14 Moon rock.
- 6:30 p.m.: Dr. Amanda Nahm, NASA Headquarters planetary scientist, will discuss lunar science and insights from Artemis II.
- 7:30 p.m.: Ernie Wright, NASA Goddard scientific visualizer, will explain how lunar data informs dynamic visualizations.
Goddard researchers will also highlight missions like the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and their contributions to uncovering lunar secrets and expanding our cosmic knowledge. Admission is free and open to families, though advance registration helps coordinate logistics. The event runs rain or shine, with complimentary parking available.
For those unable to attend in Greenbelt, global participation options include organizing local observations, joining virtual programs, or locating regional events. Registration and further details are available at NASA’s event page and go.nasa.gov/ObserveTheMoon. The celebration is supported by NASA’s LRO mission and Goddard’s Solar System Exploration Division.