You can celebrate the 40th anniversary of the moon landing anytime at this museum, which holds more than 3,500 space artifacts (out of a total of 17,000) stemming from the mission. Right now, however, it’s also featuring a painting exhibit from one of the astronauts aboard Apollo 11: Alan Bean, the fourth man to walk on the moon. Bean has been a full time artist since resigning from NASA in 1981, dedicating his life to the art of painting, in an impressionistic style, his Apollo memories. And he’s certainly the first artist in history able to paint the moon from firsthand experience. “Alan Bean: Painting Apollo, First Artist on Another World” is on display now through Jan. 13. Gallery 211, National Air and Space Museum, Independence Avenue and Sixth Street SW. Call 202-633-1000 or visit www.nasm.si.edu.
Pictured: Kissing the Earth (1994) by Alan Bean