astronauts
the Apollo 11 crew Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Fla.
apollo 11 on its launch pad the night before it was launched to the moon.
a woman
Apollo 11 spacecraft launching.
a woman in a car holding a picture
a crowd of people
an aerial view of spectators around their campsites awaiting the Apollo 11 launch.
men inside a trailer
president and Mrs. Johnson and Vice President Agnew watch Apollo 11 lift off.
apollo ll's ascent from earth trails a rooster tail of flame.
people in a living room
a boy holding a newspaper
the lunar lander above the moon with earth behind
a family in front of an American flag
space module
the man on the moon
soldiers reading a newspaper
awed woman with crossed fingers looks up as Apollo 11 launches.
astronauts in flight suits walk toward spacecraft at sunrise.
men at sea
Apollo 11 moon explorers run through their first full dress rehearsal.
moon landing research vehicle.
an astronaut leaving the lunar lander
women with their children reading newspapers
a man and women celebrating
a woman on a bed smoking
people watching tvs
women sitting on stools
people outside a trailer
a man on the moon
a man on the moon
a man on the moon
a family watching tv
men in a trailer and women looking in
families around a moon
a crowd
a woman and girl on a sofa
people sitting on the grass outside
a man shaving
helicopters over the ocean
astronauts going into a trailer
a man on the moon
1 of 50
A close-up of the lunar surface reveals pebbles, dust, and Buzz Aldrin’s boot. Aldrin took this photograph after taking his iconic footprint image.
Photograph by NASA

See our 50 favorite photos from Apollo 11

Feel the excitement the mission stirred at home and abroad in our gallery of archival images celebrating the moon landing's 50th anniversary.

ByCatherine Zuckerman
Photo edit byJenna Fite
July 12, 2019

On July 20, 1969, the world held its breath as astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin made the first steps on the moon. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of this landmark moment, we’ve curated a gallery of 50 archival photographs that offer a rare and intimate glimpse at the mission and the global excitement it stirred.

This article has been adapted for various platforms. You can find a richer digital experience of this story here.

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