Moon and Earth captured by the Artemis II crew

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. 20 July 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.

Orbiting about 239,000 miles from Earth, the moon is Earth's only natural satellite. With almost no atmosphere, it experiences extreme temperature contrasts between sunlit heat and shadowed cold. Yet its influence reaches far beyond its surface—its gravity helps drive ocean tides on Earth, linking this quiet, airless world to everyday life. More than a destination for exploration, the moon remains a constant presence in our skies, connecting early observations of the night sky to ongoing exploration today.