%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20id%3D%22Layer_1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20684.6%2068.1%22%20style%3D%22enable-background%3Anew%200%200%20684.6%2068.1%3B%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cg%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20d%3D%22M444.1%2C29.3h-17.4v14.5h17.4V29.3z%20M36.4%2C68.1l29.3-50.8V0H50.4L32.9%2C36.8L15.5%2C0H0v68.1h16.7V45.8l12.4%2C22.3H36.4z%0A%09%09%20M49.1%2C68.1h16.6V23.4L49.1%2C52.1V68.1z%20M76.6%2C68.1h45V53.8H93.3V41.6h21V27.1h-21V14.8h28.3V0.1h-45V68.1z%20M175.6%2C68.1h17.3v-68%0A%09%09h-16.5v40.3L150%2C0.1h-17.6v68h16.7V27.7L175.6%2C68.1z%20M235.8%2C14.8h15.4V0.1h-47.4v14.7H219v53.2h16.8V14.8z%20M290.3%2C45.9h-17.1%0A%09%09l7.5-15.6h2L290.3%2C45.9z%20M298.7%2C68.1h18l-32.2-68h-5.7l-32%2C68h18l3.3-7.1h27.1L298.7%2C68.1z%20M325.2%2C68.1h46.2V53.8h-29.6V0.1h-16.7%0A%09%09V68.1z%20M423.7%2C14.8h27.2V0.1H407v68h16.7V14.8z%20M462%2C68.1h46.2V53.8h-29.6V0.1H462V68.1z%20M564.8%2C34.1c0%2C10.7-7.2%2C19.2-18.5%2C19.2%0A%09%09c-11.4%2C0-18.5-8.5-18.5-19.2s7.1-19.2%2C18.5-19.2C557.6%2C14.9%2C564.8%2C23.4%2C564.8%2C34.1%20M580.6%2C34.1c0-19-14.2-34-34.3-34%0A%09%09c-20.2%2C0-34.3%2C15-34.3%2C34c0%2C19%2C14.1%2C34%2C34.3%2C34C566.4%2C68.1%2C580.6%2C53.1%2C580.6%2C34.1%20M604.8%2C20.5c0-4.1%2C3.3-6.2%2C6.7-6.2%0A%09%09c4.4%2C0%2C6.6%2C3%2C6.6%2C6.6h14.7C631.8%2C9.1%2C625.1%2C0.1%2C611%2C0.1c-12%2C0-21.7%2C9.3-21.7%2C20.6c0%2C10.9%2C5.9%2C15.9%2C16.7%2C19.8%0A%09%09c5.2%2C1.8%2C11.5%2C3.2%2C11.5%2C8c0%2C3.3-2.4%2C5.5-6.4%2C5.5c-3.6%2C0-6.6-3-6.6-6.7h-15.2c0%2C11.5%2C7.9%2C20.8%2C21.8%2C20.8c12%2C0%2C21.6-9.3%2C21.6-20.6%0A%09%09c0-10-5.3-16.4-16.7-19.8C610.6%2C26.1%2C604.8%2C25.3%2C604.8%2C20.5%20M670%2C20.9h14.7C683.8%2C9.1%2C677.1%2C0.1%2C663%2C0.1c-12%2C0-21.7%2C9.3-21.7%2C20.6%0A%09%09c0%2C10.9%2C5.9%2C15.9%2C16.7%2C19.8c5.2%2C1.8%2C11.5%2C3.2%2C11.5%2C8c0%2C3.3-2.4%2C5.5-6.4%2C5.5c-3.6%2C0-6.6-3-6.6-6.7h-15.2c0%2C11.5%2C7.9%2C20.8%2C21.8%2C20.8%0A%09%09c12%2C0%2C21.6-9.3%2C21.6-20.6c0-10-5.3-16.4-16.7-19.8c-5.4-1.6-11.3-2.4-11.3-7.2c0-4.1%2C3.3-6.2%2C6.7-6.2C667.7%2C14.4%2C670%2C17.3%2C670%2C20.9%0A%09%09%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
There's a Second Moon—a Mini-Moon—in Earth's Orbit
Earth's second moon, a "mini-moon" dubbed 2020 CD3, is about the size of a small car and may have been trapped in our planet's orbit for years.
MOON
How to See Venus and the Moon Share a ‘Kiss’ in a Rare Astronomical Event This Week
On Thursday, Venus and the moon will appear to nearly touch in the night sky after sunset. Here's what you should know about the spectacle.
The Moon Will Make Mars Disappear Next Week
Take a break from your regularly scheduled stargazing to watch the moon swallow Mars on Tuesday morning.
Catch the Snow Moon Lighting Up February Skies in 2023
February's full moon is named for the month's heavy snowfall. Here's what you need to know about the snow moon and how to see it on February 9.
The Wolf Moon, 2020’s First Full Moon, Coincides With a Lunar Eclipse
This Friday’s full moon won’t be as striking as the blood moon of a total lunar eclipse, but it’s still worth a skyward glance.
A Rare ‘Full Cold Moon Kiss’ Is Coming This Week—Here’s How to See It
On December 11, a full cold moon will appear at the same time as a planetary 'kiss' between Saturn and Venus. Here's how to catch the spectacle.
A Huge Full Hunter’s Moon Will Light Up The Sky This Weekend
The next full moon will be extra bright, extra big, and hard to miss. Here’s the best time to look up at October's hunter's moon.
A Full Beaver Moon Is Coming in November
The meaning of the name "beaver moon" originated with early Americans centuries ago. Here are some more things you should know about the lunar event.
Rare Harvest ‘Micromoon’ Will Appear on Friday the 13th
The full moon closest to the autumnal equinox is dubbed a 'harvest moon.' This year, it will also be a rare harvest 'micromoon.'
August Is Ending With a Super New Moon
The gravitational pull of the supermoon will team up with that of the sun on August 30 to create super-charged "king" tides around the world.
How to See the Full Sturgeon Moon on Thursday
August's full moon is called a sturgeon moon. Here's what you need to know to make the most of the celestial event on August 15.
The Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks Next Week—Here's How to Boost Your Chance of Seeing a Shooting Star
A full sturgeon moon will make 2019's Perseids less brilliant than they've appeared in years past, but if you know when and where to look, you can increase your chances of spotting a shooting star.
Thousands of Tardigrades Are Stranded on the Moon After an Israeli Lunar Lander Crashed
Thousands of dehydrated tardigrades—also known as water bears—were accidentally left on the Moon's surface last April, and it's highly likely that they're still alive.
July Is Ending With a Rare Black Supermoon on Wednesday
After a month of spooky astronomical events, July will close out with a rare black supermoon this Wednesday.
The Delta Aquariid Meteor Shower Peaks This Weekend—Here's How to See It
Usually it's all about the Perseids, but this summer, the Delta Aquariids is the meteor shower to catch, thanks to July's "old moon." Here's how to view it.
Richard Nixon Had a Speech Prepared In the Event That Apollo 11's Mission Failed
In the event that Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were stranded on the moon, William Safire wrote a heartbreaking letter for the president to read.
Get The Details On All 21 Successful Moon Landings With This Interactive Map
Apollo 11’s 50th anniversary is a great opportunity to explore the history of Moon landings with Smithsonian.com’s handy map.
Meet Margaret Hamilton: The Woman Behind the Apollo Project
When Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the surface of the Moon in July of 1969, software was a relatively new development. In fact, the Moon mission was one of the first times this kind of engineering was used in such a fundamental way. History was being wri
LEGO Built a Life-Sized Astronaut Model to Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11
The 6-foot-3-inch model took 300 hours and 30,000 LEGO blocks to build. It matches the astronaut suits worn during the 1969 Moon landing.
A Half-Blood Thunder Moon Will Light Up Tonight’s Sky
The half-blood thunder moon—a partial lunar eclipse that coincides with a full moon in July—falls on the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch.
CBS Is Live-Streaming Its 1969 Coverage of the Apollo 11 Launch Right Now on YouTube
Tune into CBS’s live stream of its 1969 coverage of the Apollo 11 mission launch, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing.
8 Facts About David Bowie's 'Space Oddity'
On July 11, 1969—just weeks before the Apollo 11 landing—David Bowie's iconic single 'Space Oddity' was released.
The Washington Monument Is Transforming Into a Full-Scale Saturn V Rocket for the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing
Find out when and where you can watch the full-scale projection, accompanied by a short film about the 1969 Moon landing.
50 Facts About the Apollo 11 Moon Landing
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the Moon—and Buzz Aldrin became the first one to pee on it.