Moon Day

July 20 commemorates a very special day in the history of the world- it is the day when man first walked on the moon on July 20, 1969. When Neil Armstrong stepped down onto the moon’s cratered surface with the words, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind, ” every nation on earth felt proud. Ever since this day is being recognized as National Moon Day and 52 years later, it still resonates with us.

In 1961 the then-president John F. Kennedy appealed to a special joint session of Congress for the mission of sending astronauts to the moon. In 1964, for the first time, American TV viewers got to view the Moon's cratered surface from images transmitted by NASA's unmanned probe, Ranger 7. NASA, after five years of great efforts and hard work, initiated the unmanned Apollo Mission. American astronauts Neil Armstrong, and Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin became the first humans in history to land on the Moon in the spaceflight Apollo 11 that also carried lunar module pilot, Michael Collins. While Aldrin and Armstrong made the first crewed landing on the surface, Collins was the astronaut who flew the Apollo 11 command module Eagle around the moon.

Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface six hours after landing on the moon. He spent nearly two and a half hours outside the spacecraft, followed by Buzz Aldrin. The two astronauts collected 21.5 kg of lunar material, which made the journey back to Earth for analysis. Armstrong and Aldrin spent over 21 hours on the lunar surface at a site they named 'Tranquility Base. They rejoined astronaut Collins in the command module and returned to Earth on July 24. Caught up in the thrill of the adventure, millions of Americans watched the mission from Earth. Televisions around the world tuned in to the live broadcasts. The astronauts had a worldwide audience.

July 20 became one of the most important days not just in the history of the US but also the world as the sky opened up to new explorations and possibilities. National Moon Day was proclaimed in 1971 by the then US President Richard Nixon to honor the anniversary of man's first moon landing. Putting men on the moon became a tangible achievement in the space race. It placed the United States in a role to go forth and explore into the deeper reaches of the universe, too. In the months and decades that followed, NASA and the Soviets stepped up their missions.

Some interesting facts about the moon are-

• Although the moon is the brightest object we see in the night sky, its diameter is about one-quarter the size of Earth but with less gravity.

• The moon formed when a giant Mars-sized object hit earth 4.6 billion years ago and a cloud of vaporized rock spun into orbit encircling the earth. Once the cloud cooled, it transformed into smaller chunks that combined together, creating our moon.

• The moon has earthquakes (or in this case, moonquakes) that sometimes form cracks where gases escape.

No matter how many years pass, we will always be in awe of the first moon landing in 1969. Landing on the moon was a huge step for mankind and our understanding of the great realm we exist in. Traditions for National Moon Day include watching documentaries and reading books on the Apollo 11 mission, moon watching, and marveling at its glorious luminescence at night. Space enthusiasts bring out their telescopes to gaze at the moon and they read up on NASA’s upcoming projects and missions. National Moon Day is also prominently celebrated in schools, with the moon being the main topic in classes to educate children on the historical event. National Moon Day is also especially important for those interested in astrology and astronomy. The positioning of the moon, its effect on Earth, and the planetary moons are greatly discussed and delved into today.

The day doesn’t just celebrate the landmark mission but also celebrates future missions. Private expeditions are taking humans further into space. Armstrong’s “one small step for man” inspired imaginations and sparked innovation, too, for generations to come.

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