National Moon Day is observed every year on July 20 to celebrate the day the first man walked on the moon.
In 1969, the United States sent its first crew of astronauts on a mission to the moon in Apollo 11. Neil Armstrong became the first man to set foot on the moon's surface, followed by Buzz Aldrin who accompanied him.
National Moon Day is celebrated to raise awareness about achievements in moon and space exploration. It also serves as a reminder to appreciate the contributions of space scientists and astronauts to moon exploration.
Here are some myths about the moon which you thought were true but are untrue:
You may be surprised to know that the moon is not a sphere. Rather moon's shape can be compared more to a lemon. Not only the moon, but some other planets in our solar system do not have a round shape.
Although the moon can seem to change in colour depending on atmospheric and cosmic conditions, its name has nothing to do with its colour. A "blue moon" is when a month observes a second full moon, making it a rare occasion.
It was believed that the full moon has a strange effect on human beings, just like the ocean tides. The reason was, the crime rate spiked on full moon night. But the truth is that a full moon provides more light for criminal activity.
Although considerably less, the moon has about one-sixth of Earth's gravity. The footage of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin shared by NASA shows them walking and moving about on the moon's surface, which otherwise would not be possible if there was no gravity.