Can we protect historical sites on the moon before it's too late?

An astronaut in a white space suit looks at a flag planted on a dusty grey surface.

A number of groups and individuals say there's a need to protect lunar history before it's too late.

The World Monuments Fund released its 2025 "Watch list," which lists the moon as an "at risk" historic site. The hope is to protect select lunar areas from damage, or even from looting and exploitative visitation by future lunar tourists. But that could be a celestial sore point, given how much attention the moon is receiving and how many lunar missions have been planned in both public and private sectors.