The IAU100 Moon Landing 50 global project was conceived to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first human landing on the moon in 1969. Diverse activities and events in more than 70 countries have registered for participation.

 

The Moon Landing 50 website features event updates, visual resources (including logos and posters), activities and tools for event organisers, and a growing list of all registered events taking place worldwide. A special contest was also organised to reward 20 individuals and organisations from around the world with a telescope signed by astronauts to be used in outreach and education activities for Moon Landing 50 events. 

 

A variety of moon-related activities are being coordinated worldwide on and around the anniversary of 20-21 July 2019. IAU100 invites everyone to officially register an activity, as any moon-related event taking place on or around the anniversary can be included. The variety of events taking place as part of Moon Landing 50 includes festivals, film viewings, public competitions, classroom activities, museum exhibits, public lectures, moon observation events and more.

 

Two of the diverse initiatives taking place include the We Share the Same Moon and SYSTEM Sounds projects:

 

We Share the Same Moon is an innovative project that was developed to create an inclusive approach to science education, by using stories about the Moon and connections to the 50th anniversary of the 1969 moon landing. The We Share the Same Moon project emphasises that the Moon is something that can be seen in the night sky from anywhere in the world, and all cultures have their own tales about how the Moon came to be, why it changes shape, and why its surface is marked. We Share the Same Moon is an IAU100 Special Project.

 

SYSTEM Sounds was invited by NASA to convey the scientific legacy of the Apollo mission through sound. In this special musical piece, Giant Leaps - Apollo Program Sonification, the note pitches indicate the amount of scientific activity associated with Apollo and subsequent lunar missions. Higher pitches indicate greater numbers of articles, citations, and patents associated with certain keywords and the passage of time is creatively depicted by percussion instruments. This sonification and video is featured as part of the NASA Explorers: Apollo audio series. SYSTEM Sounds has also been financially supported by the IAU’s Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD).

 

IAU100 invites everyone to register an event in their country and to share their engagement on social media during the events using #IAU100 and #MoonLanding50.