International Moon Day2026 · Date · History · Messages · Quotes
A/RES/76/76
About International Moon Day
International Moon Day is observed on 20 July. The United Nations General Assembly declared the observance in 2021 through resolution A/RES/76/76.
The day marks the anniversary of the first human landing on the Moon during Apollo 11 in 1969 while also recognizing lunar exploration by many states and promoting awareness of sustainable exploration and use of the Moon.
Why International Moon Day matters
The Moon has scientific, cultural and technological importance, and current lunar activity involves research, exploration, engineering, international law and questions about long-term sustainability.
An observance guide should distinguish the historical Apollo 11 milestone from the wider history of lunar exploration and should avoid implying that one country represents all achievements in Moon science and exploration.
History of International Moon Day
The UN General Assembly declared 20 July International Moon Day in 2021 through resolution A/RES/76/76 on international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.
The date marks the anniversary of the first human landing on the Moon on 20 July 1969 as part of Apollo 11. The first International Moon Day was observed in 2022.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
United Nations General Assembly
UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/76/76
First documented observance
The first International Moon Day was observed in 2022.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe International Moon Day
Compare major lunar missions from different countries and explain what each was designed to learn or demonstrate.
Observe the Moon safely with the unaided eye, binoculars or a telescope and record changes in phase and visible features.
Explore how lunar exploration relates to communications, navigation, geology, engineering and international space law.
Discuss what sustainable lunar exploration could mean without assuming that legal or policy questions are already settled.
Use mission archives and space-agency sources when checking historical claims or technical details.
International Moon Day Facts
The documented calendar date for International Moon Day is 20 July.
The UN General Assembly declared the day in 2021 through resolution A/RES/76/76.
20 July marks the anniversary of the first human landing on the Moon during Apollo 11 in 1969.
The observance also recognizes the achievements of all states in lunar exploration.
The day promotes awareness of sustainable Moon exploration and utilization.
International Moon Day Messages
International Moon Day is a good excuse to slow down, explore the topic and enjoy the people, stories or traditions connected with it.
Wishing everyone marking International Moon Day a day filled with curiosity, creativity and meaningful discovery.
Happy International Moon Day! May International Moon Day invite fresh curiosity about the traditions, ideas and people connected with this occasion.
Celebrate International Moon Day by learning something new, sharing what you enjoy and inviting someone else into the experience.
May International Moon Day spark fresh ideas, thoughtful conversation and a little more curiosity about the subject behind the day.
International Moon Day Quotes
“The goals of the IMD are mainly to promote public awareness involving different countries, including industry, academia, and space agencies”
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
United Nations General Assembly — A/RES/76/76 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs — International Moon Day background (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — International Moon Day (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — List of International Days and Weeks (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — Observances: who chooses them and how (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is International Moon Day?
20 July The documented recurrence rule is: 20 July.
Does International Moon Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is International Moon Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United Nations / international observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes International Moon Day?
The reviewed sources identify United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body.
Is International Moon Day international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: United Nations / international observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-05.
Why is International Moon Day on 20 July?
The date marks the anniversary of the first landing by humans on the Moon during the Apollo 11 mission on 20 July 1969.
When did the United Nations establish International Moon Day?
The UN General Assembly declared the observance in 2021 through resolution A/RES/76/76.
Is International Moon Day only about Apollo 11?
No. Apollo 11 explains the date, but the UN observance also recognizes lunar-exploration achievements by all states and promotes awareness of sustainable Moon exploration and utilization.
How this differs from closely related observances
These distinctions use the cited evidence to clarify scope without treating related observances as identical.
Is International Moon Day the same as International Day of Human Space Flight?
International Moon Day on 20 July marks the first human landing on the Moon and promotes awareness of lunar exploration and sustainable use. The International Day of Human Space Flight on 12 April commemorates the beginning of human spaceflight with Yuri Gagarin’s 1961 flight.
Open International Day of Human Space Flight →Distinction sources
Other observances on July 20
These observances are also listed on July 20, 2027.
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National Pennsylvania Day
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World Chess Day
A/RES/74/22