Goddard Space Flight Center Moon Tree

Greenbelt, Maryland

[Goddard Moon Tree]

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 sign is being created.

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

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

Goddard News Article (August 2002)
This Month In Goddard History (Goddard View, October 2009)
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: Dr. David R. Williams, david.r.williams@nasa.gov
Last Updated: 19 September 2019, DRW