International Observe the Moon Night occurs each year on a Saturday in September or October when the moon is close to first quarter: a great phase for evening observing. Does your camp have a telescope or binoculars? Get them out!
The edge of the sunlit portion of the moon, where the shadows are long, is a great place to explore the rugged lunar terrain. No special equipment? No problem! Whether you’re in a city or a dark sky site, you don’t need special equipment to observe the moon.
We have moon maps designed especially for International Observe the Moon Night 2024 with lunar features campers can look for and learn about, month-long moon observation journals they can start, and a collection of activities that can be done at camp or at home. Last year, almost a million people participated in 123 countries and all 7 continents. This year, we are celebrating 15 years of the program!
Get Involved!
- Host a public or private event at your camp (with something new, or by making the moon the theme of any planned program). Share the opportunity with campers. Campers can reconnect by observing the moon together!
- Campers and staff can attend your event, find or host an event in their community, or observe the moon with family and friends.
- Register your participation to add your event, or yourself, to the global map of lunar observers.
- Tune into the NASA Broadcast and watch live streams of the moon from telescopes around the world on our Live Streams page on September 14.
- Connect online to share your experience and find out how others are participating through the program Flickr group, Facebook page, or your preferred social media platform, using the hashtag #ObserveTheMoon.
Participation can take many forms, from single-day experiences to programs a week or more in length. Coders could program rovers to explore lunar terrain. Dancers could imagine movement on the moon. Campers could research the history of lunar exploration or the importance of the Moon in their culture, or cultures around the world. Visit our website for more observing suggestions — or run with your own idea! The participation window extends from September 6 to September 24.
Find more program information and resources the International Observe the Moon Night website: moon.nasa.gov/observe.
Andrea Jones is the Public Engagement Lead of NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission the Solar System Exploration Division at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and the Director of International Observe the Moon Night.
