July 20th is International Moon Day

July 20th is International Moon Day

International Moon Day is celebrated annually on July 20. The date was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly on December 9, 2021, through the Resolution 76/76The choice of date was not random: this day marks the anniversary of the first moon landing, the arrival of man on the Moon on July 20, 1969.

The aim of the day is to promote the peaceful use of outer space through international cooperation, with the aim of making efforts to prevent an arms race in outer space and also to raise awareness of other situations, namely the issue of space debris and the problems it causes.

International Moon Day

On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 became the first spacecraft to set foot on a surface other than Earth: we had finally reached the Moon! In this major milestone for humanity, American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin set foot on the Moon for the first time, while Michael Collins remained in orbit in the command module.

“That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind”, Neil Armstrong.

International Moon Day seeks to shed light on the importance of ensuring that space exploration is carried out responsibly, ethically, and with benefit-sharing.
More than a symbolic celebration, this day's mission is to raise public awareness about the exploration and sustainable use of the Moon, prevent an arms race in space, and raise awareness about space debris and the dangers it poses.

The initiative was originally proposed by Moon Village Association, as an annual event of an educational, cultural and scientific nature, with the aim of generating public support for policies of sustainable lunar exploration and use, as well as the need to regulate lunar activities.

In December 2021, the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly declared that International Moon Day should be observed annually on 20 July, the anniversary of the first moon landing in history.

To this end, events are held around the world during this day, including community discussion panels, lectures, webinars, concerts, exhibitions and educational video screenings.

International Moon Day was celebrated for the first time in 2022, with more than 40 events successfully organized in 23 different countries under the theme Lunar Coordination, Exploration and Sustainability.

This Year's Theme

In 2025, the theme of International Moon Day is “One Moon, One Vision, One Future” and aims to convey the spirit of unity, collaboration and progress in lunar exploration:

A Moon – A universal symbol of unity and curiosity, the Moon belongs to all humanity. It represents our shared responsibility to explore and preserve it for future generations.
A vision -A call for cross-border collaboration, uniting nations, industries, and individuals in a shared commitment to advancing science, technology, and space exploration.
A Future – A promise of sustainability, inclusion, and collective progress. The Moon represents the next step in humanity's journey, transforming challenges into opportunities and inspiring future generations.

Raising Awareness

International Moon Day aims to raise awareness about the sustainable and peaceful exploration and use of the Moon.

Concern about the peaceful use of space is not new, dating back to the 1960s. Resolution 1348, adopted by the United Nations, was the first formal document to address the issue of regulating outer space. Known as "Question of the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space” aimed to discuss how outer space can benefit the people of our planet.

Other legal instruments would follow, such as the “Magna Carta of Space”, known as the “Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space” which establishes that the Moon and celestial bodies cannot be appropriated by any country or private entity.

Currently, space-related activities are coordinated by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), under the supervision of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, which manages the “Registry of Objects Launched into Space” and promotes cooperation between States, with a view to the responsible and beneficial use of space technologies.

Africa and the Moon

Although no African country has yet sent missions to the Moon, the continent has been asserting itself in the aerospace sector. Countries such as South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, and Rwanda already have space agencies and have launched their own satellites.

Africa's growing commitment to scientific education, satellite technology, and Earth observation could, in the medium term, open doors to collaborative missions with other countries and to African participation in global space decisions.

The Moon, in this context, is not just a distant destination, but rather an opportunity to train young scientists, boost high-tech industries, and project the continent into the future of humanity.

Fun Facts About the Moon

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More than 135 space missions have been sent to the Moon.
Only 12 humans have walked on the lunar surface.
Lunar space debris includes flags, tools, and even a family photograph left behind by an astronaut.
The Artemis program, which involves NASA and several strategic partners, aims to return humans to the Moon by the end of this decade.
With the discovery of water on the Moon, the idea of creating a permanent base there has intensified.
The Moon has been proposed as a launching pad for future missions to Mars.

Conclusion

The Moon, once an unfathomable mystery, is today a symbol of progress, science, and collaboration between peoples. International Moon Day is not just a tribute to the past; it is a powerful call for cooperation toward a future where space exploration serves all of humanity, without exclusion or confrontation.

On this July 20th, let us celebrate not only man's arrival on the Moon, but also the commitment to explore and preserve it — as a common good of the human species.