International Observe the Moon Night at NASA Goddard: Celebrate Artemis II on September 19

After four humans orbited the Moon during NASA’s Artemis II mission in April—the first crewed lunar flight in more than 50 years—the public is invited to take a closer look at NASA’s lunar exploration efforts. The International Moonlit Observation Festival will take place Saturday, September 19, at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Visitor Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Celebrate the Moon at NASA Goddard

The International Moonlit Night Observation is an annual festival where people gather to learn about the Moon and explore humanity’s connection to Earth’s closest celestial neighbor. Since the program began in 2010, participants around the world have joined through Moon observations, hands-on activities, artwork, music, and more.

This year’s NASA Goddard event will focus on the agency’s ongoing lunar exploration, including the historic Artemis II mission. Visitors can go behind the scenes to learn what it took to make Artemis II’s lunar journey a success and discover how Goddard scientists and engineers are advancing our understanding of the Moon, the solar system, and beyond.

Event time: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET

What to Expect at the Moon Observation Festival

During the event, visitors can participate in interactive activities, create artwork and crafts, and take photos at self-service photo kiosks. Telescopes will be set up outside, weather permitting, offering participants the opportunity to observe the Moon and other celestial bodies up close.

Guests can also see an authentic Apollo 14 Moon rock on display inside the visitor center.

NASA Speakers and Presentations

• 6:30 p.m.: Dr. Amanda Nahm, a planetary scientist at NASA Headquarters, will explore the science and wonder of the Moon through the lens of Artemis II.
• 7:30 p.m.: Ernie Wright, a science visualizer at NASA Goddard, will explain how scientists use real data to create videos and visualizations of the Moon.

Free, Family-Friendly NASA Event

The festival also offers an opportunity to learn more about groundbreaking research at NASA Goddard. Scientists there are working to unlock the Moon’s secrets and explore the solar system and beyond through missions such as the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO).

The International Moonlit Night Viewing event at Goddard is free and family-friendly. Registration is not required, but registering in advance will help the Visitor Center team plan for the event. The festival will be held rain or shine, and free parking will be available at the Visitor Center.

For additional details about registration, accessibility, and event logistics, visit the NASA Goddard Visitor Center events page.

Join International Observe the Moon Night From Anywhere

If you cannot travel to Greenbelt, you can still participate in International Moonlit Observations from anywhere on Earth. Join moonwatchers around the world by observing the Moon with friends and family, attending virtual events, or finding an event in your area.

For more information and to register, visit go.nasa.gov/ObserveTheMoon.

International Observe the Moon Night is sponsored by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission and the Solar System Exploration Division at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, with support from many partners. The celebration encourages people to pause, look up, and consider future destinations as NASA prepares for deep-space missions to the Moon and beyond.

Learn More About NASA’s Artemis Program

Explore NASA’s Artemis program to learn more about the agency’s plans for lunar exploration.