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The lunar perspective. International Moon Day
From the moon's cratered surface, Earth appears as a thin, glowing crescent against the darkness—a rare view that reverses our usual perspective. This stark landscape, shaped by billions of years of impacts, preserves a record of the early solar system. July 20 marks International Moon Day, commemorating the 1969 Apollo 11 landing, when humans first set foot on the lunar surface. Established by the United Nations in 2021, the day highlights past achievements and ongoing efforts to explore the moon.
The moon's surface photographed through a telescope
The moon
Composite photo showing the phases of the moon
Composite image of the moon
Earthrise across Mare Smythii on the moon
The moon rises over Glastonbury Tor, England
Eclipse of the moon
Color-coded relief map of Linné Crater on the moon