Essential Information

Type Events and festivals
Location
Online
Date and Times Available now
Prices Free
Watch on YouTube Watch on Facebook

To mark the anniversary of Apollo 17 and 50 years since humans last set foot on the Moon, the Royal Observatory Greenwich held a live observation of the lunar surface online.

Hosted by Public Astronomy Officer Dr Gregory Brown, we took a detailed look at the Moon through the Royal Observatory's Annie Maunder Astrographic Telescope, and examined the giant leaps for mankind made by the Apollo programme.

You can watch back the broadcast here:

This content is hosted by a third party

Please allow all cookies to watch the video.

Manage cookie preferences

We also delve into the history of lunar observation, as well as the next phase of exploring our celestial neighbour: NASA's ambitious Artemis programme.

Never miss a shooting star

Sign up to our space newsletter for exclusive astronomy news, guides and events.

Sign up

See the world’s greatest space photography

Visit the Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition at the National Maritime Museum
Book tickets
Artemis Programme: what you need to know about NASA’s Moon missions
NASA's Artemis missions aim to land the first woman and person of colour on the Moon, create a lunar base, and lay the groundwork for a future trip to Mars!
Space Live
Watch the biggest astronomical events live online with astronomers from Royal Observatory Greenwich
Moon landing conspiracy theories, debunked
The Moon landings were faked. Apollo 11 didn't happen. Humans never set foot on the Moon. Heard all this before?
Our Moon 2022: Astronomy Photographer of the Year
See the stunning winning and shortlisted images in the Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2022 Our Moon category
Why did we stop going to the Moon?
In July 1969 humans landed on the Moon for the first time, as part of the Apollo 11 mission. But why haven't we been back since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972?
How many people have walked on the Moon?
The first crewed lunar landing in 1969 was a historic triumph for the USA and humankind. Including the Apollo 11 mission, 12 men have walked on the Moon. But who were they?

What’s On

More events at the Royal Observatory.

Images of constellations, the Moon, Mars, a comet and the Andromeda galaxy
Planetarium shows

The Sky Tonight
A classic guide to the night sky presented live by a Royal Observatory Greenwich astronomer
Daily except Thursdays
Adult: £12 | Child: £6 | Student: £8
Royal Observatory
Illustration of Ted in a spacesuit in front of the Moon.
Planetarium shows

Ted's Space Adventure
Join Ted the bear on an adventure around the Solar System in this special live planetarium show for under-7s - perfect for little astronauts everywhere!
Weekends and school holidays
Adult £12 | Child £6 | Student £8
Royal Observatory
A family enjoy looking through a telescope during a science demonstration at the Royal Observatory
Experiences | Royal Observatory 350th anniversary

Observatory Unlocked
Drop by and chat with our Royal Observatory Explainers as they bring science and astronomy to life
Saturdays and Sundays
Included with Royal Observatory admission
Royal Observatory
A red, yellow, pink and blue gas clouds behind images of Saturn and the Earth. Over the top of this are white, glowing sound waves and music notes.
Planetarium shows | Community astronomy

Audio Universe: Tour of the Solar System
Experience the Solar System like never before - by travelling on a spacecraft that can turn the objects in space into sound!
Weekends and school holidays
Adult: £12 | Child: £6 | Student: £8
Royal Observatory
Drone view of the historic Royal Observatory buildings during the day. Trees surround a central group of brick buildings, with the distinctive 'Onion Dome' of the Great Equatorial Telescope in the centre
Events and festivals

350 years of Royal Observatory Greenwich
Celebrate the anniversary of one of the most important scientific sites in the world
Throughout 2025
See page for details
Royal Observatory
A collage of different moons of the solar system; Triton, Enceladus, Phobos, Pandora, Ganymede, Iapetus and Mimas
Planetarium shows

Moons Beyond Counting
Learn more about our own Moon and some of the more exotic moons of the Solar System in this show narrated by our Royal Observatory astronomers
Weekends in June | 2.30pm
Adult £12 | Child £6 | Student £8
Royal Observatory
Images of each planet in the solar system and the Sun
Planetarium shows

Meet the Neighbours
Tour the Solar System and beyond in style with this live, immersive show packed full of spectacular sights and fun facts
Weekends and school holidays in July
Adult: £12 | Child: £6 | Student: £8
Royal Observatory
a collage of historical astronomical imagery including illustrations of astronomers, the observatory, planets and the Moon
Planetarium shows | Royal Observatory 350th anniversary

The Sky Tonight 1675
Celebrate 350 years of the Royal Observatory Greenwich by exploring the past and present night sky with our astronomers
Daily in August (except Thursdays)
Adult: £12 | Child: £6 | Student: £8
Royal Observatory
A collection of multi coloured stars seen by the Hubble Space Telescope
Planetarium shows | Community astronomy

Morning Stars
Our more relaxed planetarium shows for those who prefer a calmer environment, such as people with ASD
2 and 16 August | 10.15-11.00am
£10 Adult | £5 Child | Free Companion tickets
Royal Observatory
Images of Chinese constellations, the Earth, Moon, Mars, Crab supernova and some spacecraft
Planetarium shows | Community astronomy

Chinese Astronomy
From stars to space exploration, explore ancient and modern Chinese astronomy in this live planetarium show
9 August and 4 October 2025 | 10.30am
Adult £10 | Child £5
Royal Observatory
The new crescent Moon alongside an antique qibla compass.
Planetarium shows | Community astronomy

Astronomy and Islam
Join us for a special show featuring the New Crescent Moon and historic Islamic astronomy
Select Saturdays and Sundays | 10.30am
£10 Adult | £5 Child
Royal Observatory
A composite image of the moons Io (small and yellow), Deimos (tiny and mishapen), Enceladus (white and covered in cracks) and the Moon (a deep grey and covered in craters) on a black background
Family fun

Out Of This World: Moons
Explore the moons of our solar system in this family workshop
28 October 2025 | 10.30am-12pm - sold out
£5 per child
Royal Observatory
Ted on the moon
Family fun

Holiday to Space
Travel across the Solar System and help Ted prepare for a holiday on another world during a planetarium show and interactive workshop for ages 3-6.
31 October 2025 | 10.30am - sold out
£5 per child
Royal Observatory

Main image: Moon: Big Mosaic by Andrea Vanoni, Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2022