PHOTOS: Apollo 11 projected onto Washington Monument

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum transformed the Washington Monument into a Saturn V rocket.

The image of the 363-foot rocket was projected onto the east side of the Washington Monument, facing the Capitol building.

See photos and video.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect the event is from 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

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A projection of a 363-foot Saturn V rocket projected on the Washington Monument

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A man takes a photo of the projection of the rocket on the Washington Monument. (WTOP/Dave Dildine )

The dazzling light show will be projected again between 9:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 17 and Thursday, July 18.

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It looked as though you were right there, if it had been 1969. (WTOP/Dave Dildine )

Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin blasted off in 1969 for a worldwide first.

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The rocket is seen on the east side of the monument.(WTOP/Dave Dildine )

Apollo 11 took off at exactly 9:32 a.m. on July 16, 1969.

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The flags that ring the Washington Monument can be seen as the rocket is projected onto it. (WTOP/Dave Dildine )

The astronauts gathered at Cape Canaveral 50 years later. “Apollo 11 … was serious business. We, crew, felt the weight of the world on our shoulders. We knew that everyone would be looking at us, friend or foe, and we wanted to do the best we possibly could,” astronaut Michael Collins said.

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Getting to the moon took years of planning.(WTOP/Dave Dildine )

It took 400,000 people to put Apollo 11 on the moon a half-century ago.

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The rocket takes up all of the Washington Monument.(WTOP/Dave Dildine )

About 100 of the original 500 launch controllers and managers on July 16, 1969, reunited on the 50th anniversary.

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The projection on the Washington Monument fascinates people on the National Mall. (WTOP/Dave Dildine )

On July 16, Washington wasn’t the only place celebrating the anniversary. In Huntsville, Alabama, where the Saturn V was developed, some 4,900 model rockets lifted off simultaneously, commemorating the moment the Apollo 11 crew blasted off for the moon.

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People take photos and videos of the projection.(WTOP/Dave Dildine )

In addition to the projection-mapping artwork that took up 363 of the monument’s 555 vertical feet, the Smithsonian put the spacesuit that Armstrong wore on display. It was in mint condition, complete with lunar dust left on the suit’s knees, thighs and elbows.

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The view in D.C. made you feel as though you were in Florida the day of the liftoff.(WTOP/Dave Dildine)

On Friday and Saturday, the show at the Washington Monument will switch to a 17-minute film that re-creates the Apollo 11 launch.

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A recreation of the Kennedy Space Center countdown clock is seen.(WTOP/Zeke Hartner )

The weekend event called “Apollo 50: Go for the Moon” includes a 40-foot-wide recreation of the Kennedy Space Center countdown clock.

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The weekend event on the National Mall is free.(WTOP/Zeke Hartner )

You can see the show at 9:30 p.m., 10:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on Friday, July 19 and Saturday, July 20.

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The projection of the Saturn V rocket is captivating.(WTOP/Zeke Hartner )

“Go for the Moon” will be free to attend, with viewing areas available on the National Mall between the Smithsonian Castle and National Museum of Natural History. You can text Apollo50GO to 888777 for live updates on the days of the shows.

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A view of the rocket projected onto the Washington Monument near the National Museum of African American History and Culture. (WTOP/Sarah Beth Hensley)