Moon

Scientists say a giant impact knocked off the raw ingredients for the moon off the primitive molten Earth and into orbit.

Related Topics: Earth, Apollo Program, Moon Phases 

Latest Updates

CAPSTONE in its halo-shaped lunar orbit.

Why it'll take NASA's tiny CAPSTONE probe so long to reach the moon

By Mike Wall published

NASA's 55-pound (25 kilograms) CAPSTONE cubesat launched toward the moon today (June 28), but it won't get there until Nov. 13.

Rocket Lab Electron launching at night carrying CAPSTONE cubesat to the moon

NASA's tiny CAPSTONE cubesat launches on pioneering moon mission

By Mike Wall published

NASA's tiny CAPSTONE spacecraft has begun its long, history-making journey to the moon.

A Rocket Lab Electron booster on the launch pad with the CAPSTONE mission and purple clouds.

Watch NASA's CAPSTONE cubesat launch to the moon today to test unique lunar orbit

By Tariq Malik published

Rocket Lab will launch NASA's CAPSTONE cubesat to the moon from New Zealand atop an Electron booster, and you can watch it live online.

A composite image of a bull elk is silhouetted against a full moon rise in Yellowstone National Park.

July full moon 2022: 'Buck supermoon' passes Saturn

By Jesse Emspak published

The full moon of July also called the "Buck Moon" or "Thunder Moon," will occur July 23 at 10:36 p.m. EDT (0236 GMT on July 24).

A Rocket Lab Electron booster on the launch pad with the CAPSTONE mission and purple clouds.

NASA's CAPSTONE cubesat launch to the moon delayed again for systems checks

By Tariq Malik published

NASA has called off plans to launch a small cubesat to the moon on Monday (June 27) to allow more time to check its Rocket Lab booster for flight.

Graphic showing the moon and Mercury close together in the predawn sky.

See the moon shine near Mercury before dawn on Monday as it concludes its planet tour

By Daisy Dobrijevic published

The moon will pass close to Mercury in the predawn sky on Monday (June 27). Find out how and where to see this skywatching event.

A view of 5 planets aligned in the morning sky with labels.

You can watch the rare 5-planet alignment in a live webcast for free today

By Elizabeth Howell published

You can watch the five naked-eye planets align for free on a livestream that will be running Sunday (June 26).

Graphic showing Venus close to the slim crescent moon in the predawn sky.

Don't miss Venus meet the moon before dawn on Sunday in gorgeous photo opportunity

By Daisy Dobrijevic published

A gorgeous photo opportunity will greet skywatchers on Sunday (June 26) when the slim crescent moon meets Venus in the early morning sky.

An image of comet C/2017 K2 PANSTARRS (K2) taken in June 2017 by the Hubble Space Telescope's Wide Field Camera 3.

Space photos: The most amazing images this week!

By Elizabeth Howell published

See the best photos on Space.com this week.

NASA's Artemis 1 stack on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida for its crucial "wet dress rehearsal" test.

NASA eyeing late August for launch of Artemis 1 moon mission

By Josh Dinner published

NASA officials have declared the Artemis 1 moon rocket's most recent "wet dress rehearsal" a success and are hopeful the mission can get off the ground as soon as late August.

Wright Dobbs took this image of the five naked-eye planets from St. Cloud, Florida on June 24, 2022.

See the rare alignment of 5 planets and the moon in this stunning night sky photo

By Elizabeth Howell published

The rare sight of five bright planets lining up with the moon wowed skywatchers around the world Friday and you can still see it this weekend.

A rocket body impacted the moon on March 4, 2022 near Hertzsprung Crater, creating a double crater roughly 95 feet (29 meters) wide in the longest dimension, as seen in this photo taken by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.

Rogue rocket's moon crash site spotted by NASA probe (photos)

By Mike Wall published

The grave of a rocket body that slammed into the moon more than three months ago has been found.

sky diagram of moon and venus

Venus and the crescent moon get together in dazzling dance early Sunday

By Joe Rao published

Get up early Sunday to see a celestial rendezvous between the two brightest objects in the night sky: Venus and the moon.

Pulled from auction: Cockroach carcasses and the Apollo 11 moon dust extracted from their stomachs, the result of a 1969 NASA biological test in search of dangerous "moon bugs."

NASA halts sale of cockroach-eaten Apollo 11 moon dust

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

As it turns out, attempting to sell moon dust that was extracted from the stomachs of cockroaches does indeed bug NASA. So much so, that the space agency requested RR Auction halt its sale.

Artist's conception of a fission system on the moon.

NASA funds nuclear power systems for possible use on the moon

By Elizabeth Howell published

Three companies will demonstrate their potential to power lunar infrastructure using nuclear fission systems, under new joint NASA contracts announced on Tuesday (June 21).

NASA’s Artemis 1 moon rocket — carried atop the crawler-transporter 2 vehicle — as it approaches Launch Pad 39B at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA will roll SLS and Orion back to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at Kennedy next week to prepare the rocket and spacecraft for launch.

NASA declares Artemis 1 moon rocket test successful, begins prepping for launch

By Mike Wall published

The most recent Artemis 1 "wet dress rehearsal" wasn't perfect, but it was good enough to keep the NASA moon mission on course for liftoff a few months from now.

CAPSTONE in its halo-shaped lunar orbit.

Launch of NASA's CAPSTONE cubesat moon mission delayed to June 27

By Mike Wall published

The launch of NASA's CAPSTONE moon mission has been delayed at least two additional days, to no earlier than Monday (June 27).

Graphic showing a line of planets and the moon across the predawn sky.

Rare alignment of 5 planets peaks Friday as crescent moon joins the parade

By Daisy Dobrijevic published

A rare planetary alignment will peak predawn on Friday (June 24) when the crescent moon joins the party. An alignment like this will not occur again until 2040.

A photo of a nearly full moon. The image was taken one day prior to the supermoon, or a moon that appears larger due to being the closest to Earth in its orbit.

Full moon calendar 2022: When to see the next full moon

By Kimberly Hickok published

Reference The full moon happens about once a month. Find out when.

NASA's Artemis 1 stack on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida for its crucial "wet dress rehearsal" test.

NASA applauds Artemis 1 moon rocket's fueling milestone, mulls readiness for launch

By Josh Dinner published

NASA officials are pleased with Artemis 1's performance during its recent "wet dress rehearsal" but need more time to determine its readiness for launch.