NASA would really like it if you stared at the moon on Saturday night
Did you know that Sept. 26, 2020 is officially the date of the annual International Observe the Moon Night?
To celebrate the occasion, NASA's latest "Image of the Day" drop highlighted a view of Earth's lone natural satellite as seen back in 1991. The dark areas of the moon's surface are basalt plains that formed from ancient volcanic eruptions.
NASA pitches the day as an international event, but the annual observance that's been happening every year since 2009 is sponsored by the U.S. space agency's own Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission. It was established for a few reasons, as laid out on the event's homepage.
You May Also Like
Mostly, though, it's an awareness-raising endeavor that aims to get people thinking about outer space in various ways. The date it falls on changes from year to year, but they've all fallen during September or October, and specifically at a time when the moon is around its first quarter.
There are all sorts of options for those wanting to embrace their inner astronomer. You can join one of the many events happening around the world in honor of the occasion. You can also host one of your own if you prefer; there are guidelines for that right here.
What's more, because of the extenuating circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic, NASA also set up a page with a list of activities that people can use to get involved at home. There's also a Facebook group devoted to the event, as well as a Flickr group gathering together the work of amateur lunar photographers.
All participants are also invited to register on the event homepage, which helps in the assembling of a map illustrating the reach and impact of International Observe the Moon Night. If nothing else, be sure to cast your eyes skyward at some point on Saturday night and say hey to Earth's closest celestial neighbor.
Adam Rosenberg is a Senior Games Reporter for Mashable, where he plays all the games. Every single one. From AAA blockbusters to indie darlings to mobile favorites and browser-based oddities, he consumes as much as he can, whenever he can.Adam brings more than a decade of experience working in the space to the Mashable Games team. He previously headed up all games coverage at Digital Trends, and prior to that was a long-time, full-time freelancer, writing for a diverse lineup of outlets that includes Rolling Stone, MTV, G4, Joystiq, IGN, Official Xbox Magazine, EGM, 1UP, UGO and others.Born and raised in the beautiful suburbs of New York, Adam has spent his life in and around the city. He's a New York University graduate with a double major in Journalism and Cinema Studios. He's also a certified audio engineer. Currently, Adam resides in Crown Heights with his dog and his partner's two cats. He's a lover of fine food, adorable animals, video games, all things geeky and shiny gadgets.
