What are the origins of this fun-filled festive custom?
Six American flags were planted on the Moon by the Apollo missions as symbolic gestures of national pride and achievement. The astronauts also left behind small flags from other nations as a gesture of international goodwill and cooperation in space exploration. Over the years, exposure to the harsh lunar environment has likely caused them to fade significantly.
To this day, the lower halves of the Lunar Modules used in the Apollo missions remain on the Moon. These stages housed equipment and provided a stable base for the astronauts to ascend back to the Command Module, and so they remain on the surface as silent monuments of human exploration.
Apollo missions 15, 16, and 17 included Lunar Roving Vehicles (LRVs) that allowed astronauts to explore larger areas of the lunar surface. Since they were difficult to return to Earth, they remain parked on the Moon, representing significant technological advancements of their time.
Apollo missions 11, 14, and 15, along with two Soviet Lunokhod missions, left retroreflectors on the Moon. These devices reflect laser beams from Earth and allow scientists to precisely measure the distance between our planet and the Moon, contributing significantly to lunar science.
Various pieces of camera gear, including lenses and film canisters, were left on the lunar surface. These containers helped capture some of the most iconic images of the Apollo missions.
Various tools used for geological studies, such as the lunar rake held by astronaut Harrison Schmitt in this picture, were left on the Moon. These tools were essential for collecting and analyzing lunar samples that provided insight into the Moon's history.
During the Apollo 15 mission, astronaut David Scott performed a famous experiment by dropping a feather and a hammer to demonstrate Galileo's theory that objects fall at the same rate in a vacuum, which was captured in an incredibly grainy video. Both objects remain on the Moon.
The Apollo 17 mission left behind a detailed geologic map of the landing site, documenting the scientific findings and providing a reference for future lunar exploration. This map symbolizes the mission's extensive scientific contributions.
Sources: (NASA) (Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum) (Britannica) (The Guardian) (BBC) (Space.com) (FOX Weather)
See also: Destinations on Earth where Apollo astronauts trained for the Moon
Another object left by astronauts on the Moon was a portable magnetometer. Used to measure the magnetic field on the lunar surface, this instrument helped gather data on the Moon’s magnetic properties and contributed to understanding the Moon's interior structure.
Apollo missions left behind Sun compasses, which were paper compasses used for navigation and determining directions on the lunar surface. These compasses helped astronauts orient themselves and navigate during their explorations.
Apollo 17 astronaut Gene Cernan (pictured) wrote his daughter’s initials, "TDC," in the lunar dust, creating a personal and touching legacy on the Moon. These initials are a unique human mark on the lunar surface.
A plaque attached to the Lunar Module descent stage of Apollo 11 bears the signatures of the astronauts and President Richard Nixon, commemorating the first human landing on the Moon and marking the event for future explorers.
The Apollo 12 mission left a plaque similar to Apollo 11’s but commemorating their specific mission and honoring the achievement of landing in the Ocean of Storms. The plaque includes the names of the three Apollo 12 astronauts.
A plaque on the Apollo 17 Lunar Module descent stage commemorates the last human mission to the Moon. It symbolizes the closing of an era of lunar exploration, and hopes for future missions.
The Solar Wind Composition Experiment (SWC) was deployed during various Apollo missions with the aim to collect particles from the solar wind using aluminum foils on the lunar surface. The foils were left behind, but the experiment provided crucial data about the Sun's composition.
The ladders attached to the Lunar Module descent stages still remain on the Moon. These ladders were critical for astronauts to safely climb down to the lunar surface and back up to the ascent stage.
The Heat Flow Experiment was conducted to determine the rate of heat loss from the Moon’s surface. Probes (pictured here behind the astronaut) were inserted into the lunar surface, and the data collected helped scientists understand the Moon's thermal properties. These probes were ultimately left behind.
Several spacecraft, including parts of the Saturn V rockets (pictured) and ascent stages of Lunar Modules, were intentionally crashed into the Moon after completing their missions. These impacts helped calibrate seismometers left on the Moon.
A small aluminum sculpture and plaque was left by the Apollo 15 crew to commemorate the astronauts and cosmonauts who died in the pursuit of space exploration. The memorial, which was created by Belgian artist Paul Van Hoeydonck, honors their sacrifices and contributions.
A gold-plated olive branch was left by the Apollo 11 astronauts as a symbol of peace. This small, delicate item represents humanity's hope for a peaceful and united future, even as we venture into space.
Various astronauts have left personal items on the Moon, such as family photos, mission patches, and medallions. These items personalized the historic missions and served as mementos of the astronauts' connections to their Earth-bound lives.
Various tools and parts used to assemble and maintain the lunar rovers (also known as Moon buggies) were left behind. These include hammers, rakes, and sample collection devices that were essential for conducting geological studies of the Moon’s surface.
Several TV cameras were deployed on the lunar surface to broadcast live footage back to Earth, and were ultimately left there. These cameras provided humanity with its first live images from another world, capturing historical moments such as the famous Apollo 11 moonwalk.
Over a span of nearly 20 years, the Soviet Union successfully landed several unmanned Luna missions on the Moon. These robotic landers, such as Luna 16 (pictured) and Luna 20, returned samples to Earth and left behind their descent stages.
The Lunokhod 1 and 2 rovers, part of the former Soviet Union’s Luna program, were robotic vehicles that explored the lunar surface and transmitted data back to Earth. They remain on the surface of the Moon as pioneering examples of unmanned lunar exploration.
Various scientific instruments used by the Apollo missions were left behind, including the seismometers of the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP). These instruments provided valuable data on the Moon's seismic activity, magnetic field, and environment for years after their deployment.
Alongside their footprints, Apollo astronauts left behind their Moon boots to reduce weight for the return journey. These boots were specifically designed for the lunar surface, and are a testament to the careful planning and engineering of the Apollo missions.
Brushes used by astronauts to clean lunar dust from their suits and equipment were also left behind. Lunar dust proved to be highly abrasive and clingy, which posed challenges for equipment maintenance and astronaut health.
The space suits of astronauts are typically fitted with devices that collect human urine and excrement into sealed packets. Nearly 100 of these packets have been discarded by various astronauts on the Moon’s surface.
During the Apollo 14 mission, astronaut Alan Shepard (pictured) famously hit two golf balls on the Moon using a makeshift club made from a lunar excavation tool. These golf balls remain on the lunar surface, a playful yet iconic symbol of human presence and ingenuity.
The Moon’s vast and desolate landscape is littered with much more than silver dust and craters. Indeed, dozens of space missions to the dusty surface have made their mark on the celestial body, and now remnants of humanity’s journey are scattered as memorials across the lunar surface.
But what exactly have people left behind on the Moon? Click through this gallery to find out.
From personal items to trash: Things that have been left on the Moon
There’s more than flags that astronauts have left behind!
LIFESTYLE Space
The Moon’s vast and desolate landscape is littered with much more than silver dust and craters. Indeed, dozens of space missions to the dusty surface have made their mark on the celestial body, and now remnants of humanity’s journey are scattered as memorials across the lunar surface.
But what exactly have people left behind on the Moon? Click through this gallery to find out.