International Moon Day 2025: History, Theme, And Significance
International Moon Day celebrates humanity's accomplishments in space, its prospects, and the universalism that binds us all together under the moon.
News18
The world will once again look up to the sky to celebrate International Moon Day on July 20 this year. The United Nations established the occasion in December 2021 to commemorate the Apollo 11 mission in 1969 and to encourage further lunar exploration. The Moon Village Association (MVA)—a Vienna-based NGO that aims to unite engineers, scientists, private and public investors, and other stakeholders to construct a shared infrastructure on the Moon—helped the event gain international recognition. This year's International Moon Day Main Event will be hosted by the University of Dubai in association with MVA.
International Moon Day 2025 will be centered around 'One Moon, One Vision, One Future." The idea behind the event was to educate the public on how important a sustainable approach to lunar exploration is. The first International Moon Day was marked on July 20, 2022.
International Moon Day History
Apollo 11 Moon Landing:
President John F Kennedy set a national goal to send a man to the moon by the end of the 1960s, and the Apollo 11 mission was launched eight years later. The world watched as Apollo 11, carrying three men, took out from the Kennedy Space Centre on July 16, 1969. The spacecraft reached lunar orbit on July 19, three days later.
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969, while Michael Collins stayed in lunar orbit in the command module.
The following day, Armstrong and Aldrin's lunar module, Eagle, separated from the main command module. Armstrong sent the iconic radio transmission, 'The Eagle has landed," to Mission Control in Houston, Texas, as soon as Eagle touched down on the moon.
In 2021, the UN General Assembly officially declared July 20 as the International Moon Day following the recommendation from the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).
International Moon Day Significance
The goal of this day is to celebrate the successes of lunar exploration. The primary objective of this occasion is to promote the remembrance of the first arrival of human beings on the surface of the Moon. International Moon Day offers a chance to highlight sustainable lunar exploration.
The day promotes peaceful global collaboration in space exploration and the efficient use of space for the good of all people. International Moon Day's events and educational activities are designed to encourage young people to choose careers in mathematics, science, technology, and engineering.
view comments
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
New study documents 452 bird species in Telangana
Hyderabad, Jul 27 (PTI) A newly published research paper by a Professor of Osmania University and a citizen-scientist has documented that there are 452 bird species across Telangana, including rare sightings and first records for India, such as the Spur-winged Lapwing. Published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa on July 26, the study, by Prof Chelmala Srinivasulu (Osmania University) and Sriram Reddy of Hyderabad Birding Pals, (a Non-Governmental Organisation, dedicated to promoting birdwatching across Telangana) offers critical insights into Telangana's bird diversity and is one of the most comprehensive avifaunal checklists ever compiled for the state, a release from Osmania University said. It also highlights the presence of globally threatened species like the critically endangered Indian Vulture and Lesser Florican, underscoring the region's importance for bird conservation, it said. 'Birds are excellent indicators of environmental health. Our work not only corrects outdated records but also showcases Telangana's hidden biodiversity rich areas – from wetlands to forests, from grasslands to urban lakes," said Prof Srinivasulu, a leading wildlife biologist at Osmania University. Sriram Reddy, co-author and citizen-scientist said this checklist is not just for scientists, but for every nature lover, student, and amateur birder. He invited people from all walks of life to take up birdwatching – not just as a hobby, but as a meaningful connection to natural heritage. The paper is the result of decades of field observations, historic record reviews, and community-contributed data, the release said. Prof Srinivasulu urged the citizens to appreciate and protect the birds around them. He said policymakers need to work in tandem with researchers and experts to prioritise habitat identification and conservation. 'Our bird diversity and population are declining due to many direct and indirect threats. It is imperative that we need to nurture a new generation of bird lovers," he added. Osmania University Vice-Chancellor Prof Kumar Molugaram said the university fraternity appreciates the outcome of this research. PTI VVK GDK VVK KH view comments First Published: July 27, 2025, 20:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
New Indian Express
3 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Chhattisgarh's wild buffalo clone, claimed to be 'first-ever' 11 years back, embroils in scepticism
RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh forest department made headlines 11 years ago, claiming to have produced the first-ever clone of the wild buffalo, named 'DeepAsha' and is currently embroiled in scepticism. The project was executed by the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal, which claimed to have cloned the wild buffalo for the first time in the country through the 'Hand-guided Cloning Technique' at ICAR-NDRI in December 2014. The clone appears like a Murrah buffalo (domestic) breed, and notably the Wild buffalo is listed under Schedule 1 of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act. Amid the demand by wildlife enthusiasts of DeepAsha's DNA report, the state forest department decided to raise a query to the Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) asking, 'Is it technically possible to create xerox copy of wild buffalo in a cloning method where ovaries (that produces oocyte/egg cells) for cloning is sourced from slaughter house?' The response given to the department by CCMB in March this year that it was 'not possible', was acquired under the Right to Information.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Environment management programmes at IP Uni for 2025-26 academic year
New Delhi: As awareness about environmental issues continues to rise among students, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University is opening doors for aspiring changemakers by inviting applications for its three environment management programmes for the academic year 2025-26. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now These programmes provide a platform for students to explore sustainable solutions and pursue a career dedicated to environmental protection. The university is offering three courses in this domain: MSc in Environment Management, MSc in Applied Geoinformatics, and BSc in Environment Management. All three are conducted at the University School of Environment Management, located on the university's Dwarka campus. Each of the two postgraduate programmes—MSc in Environment Management and MSc in Applied Geoinformatics—has an intake capacity of 30 students, while the undergraduate BSc programme offers 60 seats. "Admissions will be based on CUET scores, but candidates will be considered under this category only after merit lists from national-level entrance examinations or university-conducted tests for affiliated programmes are exhausted," said an official. Applicants who already secured admission through other entrance routes will not be eligible to apply under the CUET-based process. Interested candidates can submit their applications online by July 30 through the official university website. A university official noted that there was a significant rise in demand for these programmes globally, reflecting the growing importance of environmental management and the increasing role of emerging technologies in this field. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "The curriculum in these courses is designed to equip students with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to address contemporary environmental challenges," the official added. In a step toward inclusive education, the university has also introduced a new quota for orphaned children, effective from the 2025-26 academic session. This initiative is in addition to the single girl child quota, which was launched last year. Under the new policy, one supernumerary seat will be reserved in each school and programme for eligible orphaned candidates.
