Goddard Space Flight Center Moon Tree

Greenbelt, Maryland

[Goddard Moon Tree] [Goddard Moon Tree Marker]

In front of the Visitor's Center at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland stands a sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) Moon Tree. The tree was planted on June 9, 1977, shortly after the Visitor's Center opened. Now over 50 feet high with a girth of about 48 inches, it is located towards the left looking from the parking lot. The Visitor's Center can be reached from IceSat Road off Greenbelt Rd., east of the main Goddard entrance.

The tree is located at 38 deg 59.558 min N; 76 deg 50.791 min W

[Tree Planting]
Picture and caption from the September 1977 issue of Goddard News.

The tree was surrounded by a small fence with a blue sign. That has been removed and a new marker on a post (above) has been installed.

[Goddard Moon Tree] [Goddard Moon Tree Plaque]
Picture of the Goddard tree in 2003 and the original sign.

Pictures at top of page courtesy Ron Zellar.
Pictures at bottom of page courtesy Jay Friedlander.

Goddard News (September 1977)
Goddard News Article (August 2002)
This Month In Goddard History (Goddard View, October 2009)

History of the Sycamore Moon Trees
Moon Tree Home Page

NASA
Author/Curator:
Dr. David R. Williams, dave.williams@nasa.gov
NSSDCA, Mail Code 690.1
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, MD 20771
+1-301-286-1258

NASA Official: Dave Williams, david.r.williams@nasa.gov
Last Updated: 14 May 2021, DRW