Observe the moon's night 2018 Saturday on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of Apollo



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People attending the International Moon Observing Night (INOMN) on Saturday (October 20th) have one more thing to celebrate: the 50th anniversary of the Apollo Moon program this month. And the public can participate in many ways, starting with this global event map on the NASA website.

InOMN has been in service since 2010 to help people celebrate the "cultural and personal relationships" that Earthlings maintains with the Moon, our closest neighbor in space, according to NASA. Coincidentally, this year's event coincides with the anniversary of the launch of Apollo 7 orbiting the Earth 50 years ago. Apollo 8, which revolves around the moon, will celebrate its 50th birthday in December. [The Moon! 10 Surprising Lunar Facts]

"This anniversary is an opportunity to discuss past, present and future lunar and planetary science and exploration and to celebrate all those who have participated in and shared this human triumph," he said. said NASA in a statement.

The International Night Observe the Moon takes place on October 20th of this year, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo Moon Program.

The International Night Observe the Moon takes place on October 20th of this year, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo Moon Program.

Credit: NASA

INOMN occurs every year in September or October, when the moon is in its first quarter, meaning that its phase is between a new moon and a full moon. When the moon is half-lit, its uneven terrain appears more easily due to shadows, especially around the day-night line (called the terminator).

For budding observers, NASA has published 10 tips for exploring the moon, from using binoculars to creating artwork to using real-world data via NASA's Moon Trek website. The agency has also published a series of online educational resources on the moon for teachers. When students need a break from learning, they can even play with a lunar labyrinth.

NASA is now exploring the moon with the help of the lunar reconnaissance orbiter, which will enter its tenth year of activity next year. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in the Maryland Greenbelt manages the spacecraft and the public can celebrate InOMN in person at Goddard from 6pm. at 9 pm EDT.

The event will include hands-on activities and exhibits, a lunar art gallery, resources for teachers and a group of people telling personal stories about the Apollo program. The Goddard Astronomy Club also plans to develop telescopes allowing visitors to view the moon and other objects, weather permitting. More details about the event are here.

Editor's note: If you take an amazing photo or video of the moon drawn from the International Observe the Moon Night that you would like to share with Space.com and our press partners for a possible story or gallery of images, send some images and comments at spacephotos @ space. .com.

Follow us on twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook. Original article on Space.com.

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