Goddard Moon Tree

Goddard Space Flight Center Moon Tree

Greenbelt, Maryland

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 (below). 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 picture at top left shows the tree in 2024, at top right in 2019.

The sycamore seeds that went on Apollo 14 were collected by the forest service from Claiborne County, Mississippi and grown at the U.S. Forest Station in Gulfport, Mississippi.

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

Picture and caption from the September 1977 issue of Goddard News.

The tree in June 2024.

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

Picture of the Goddard tree in 2003 and the original sign.

Two pictures at top right of page courtesy Ron Zellar.
Pictures at bottom of page courtesy Jay Friedlander.
Picture at top left and 2024 pictures credit Dave Williams.

Goddard News - Full Issue (September 1977)

Goddard's Moon Tree - Goddard News Article (August 2002)

Moon Tree - Earth Science Picture of the Day (18 September 2002)

This Month In Goddard History - Goddard View (October 2009)

History of the Sycamore Moon Trees
Moon Tree Home Page

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

Goddard Space Flight Center Moon Tree

Greenbelt, Maryland

NASA Official: Dave Williams, david.r.williams@nasa.gov Last Updated: 19 July 2024, DRW

NASA Official: Dave Williams, david.r.williams@nasa.gov
Last Updated: 19 July 2024, DRW