International Moon Day
July 20 · Level 7 · #748 of 2238
International Moon Day is a UN observance devoted to lunar exploration and cooperation in space. Its date commemorates the first human landing on the Moon during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969, while encouraging interest in what comes next.
How it is celebrated: science organisations and astronomy enthusiasts host talks, gatherings and lunar observing sessions when weather and visibility permit. Past missions and future exploration both feature in the conversation.
The Moon contains water ice. Some survives in permanently shadowed polar regions where direct sunlight never reaches the ground.