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

September 17 - Third Quarter Moon

See the last quarter moon of September 2022 tonight (Sept. 17)

By Robert Lea published

As the moon's light side recedes heading towards a new moon, it will be half-illuminated on Saturday during a phase called the last quarter.

Artist's impression of two spacesuited astronauts working on the moon.

NASA requests proposals for 2nd moon lander for Artemis astronauts

By Mike Wall published

NASA has asked private industry to submit proposals for crewed moon landers for its Artemis program. The agency has already tapped SpaceX's Starship as the first Artemis lander.

The space agencies of the UAE and China signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on future robotic moon missions. Photo released Sept. 16, 2022.

China, UAE will collaborate on moon rover missions

By Mike Wall published

The UAE's Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre announced today (Sept. 16) that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the China National Space Agency to work together on future moon missions.

An illustration of the night sky on Sept. 16 depicting the moon and Mars in conjunction.

See the conjunction of the moon and Mars tonight (Sept. 16)

By Samantha Mathewson published

Mars and the moon will make a close approach to each other in the sky tonight (Sept. 16), and here's what you can expect to see.

September 14 - The Moon near Uranus

You can see the moon eclipse Uranus tonight (Sept. 14) in a rare occultation

By Robert Lea published

Skywatchers can watch as the moon blocks Uranus from view on Wednesday, Sept. 14 in an event called a lunar occultation.

lander on the moon's surface in artist depiction

NASA moon contractor Masten Space Systems acquired by Astrobotic

By Elizabeth Howell published

Astrobotic will pick up the reins on Masten's business, although it's unclear what will happen with the NASA moon mission Masten had been developing.

robot with chinese flag on moon

China's next moon missions get the green light

By Andrew Jones published

China's government has officially approved three robotic moon missions that will lay groundwork for a permanent lunar base.

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.

CAPSTONE in its halo-shaped lunar orbit.

NASA's tiny CAPSTONE probe suffers problem on its journey to the moon

By Mike Wall published

Toward the end of a major engine burn on Thursday evening (Sept. 8), CAPSTONE experienced an anomaly that put the probe in a protective "safe mode," mission team members said.

photograph of rocket on launch pad

NASA's Artemis 1 moon rocket launch delayed to Sept. 27 at the earliest

By Mike Wall published

Sept. 23 is no longer an option for the launch of NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission. The agency is now targeting Sept. 27, with a possible backup date of Oct. 2.

Separated by 60 years, President John F. Kennedy (left) and NASA Administrator Bill Nelson reaffirmed "we choose to go to the moon" in Rice Stadium at Rice University in Houston on Sept. 12, 1962 and 2022, respectively.

'We choose to go to the moon...' again: NASA marks 60th anniversary of JFK speech

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

As NASA again prepares to set sail "on the most hazardous and dangerous and greatest adventure" ever embarked, the agency's leaders returned to where JFK stated, "We choose to go to the moon."

President John F. Kennedy delivered a speech at Rice Stadium of Rice University on September 12, 1962, famously asking Why do we choose to go to the moon?

Watch NASA chief commemorate 60th anniversary of JFK moon speech Monday

By Mike Wall published

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson will discuss the legacy of JFK's Rice University moon speech Monday (Sept. 12) at noon EDT (1600 GMT), and you can watch it live.

Full Harvest Moon setting behind the Statue of Liberty through a telephoto lens

Harvest Moon 2022: September's full moon thrills stargazers around the world (photos)

By Tariq Malik published

The full Harvest Moon of September lit up the night sky this weekend in a dazzling lunar sight enjoyed by skywatchers around the world.

September 11 - Moon Chases Jupiter

See the conjunction of the moon and Jupiter on Sunday (Sept. 11)

By Robert Lea published

Though the moon is much brighter than Jupiter from our position here on Earth, the gas giant dominates it in terms of size. The two will share a right ascension on Sunday night.

September 10 - Bright Moon near Neptune and Jupiter

Harvest Moon tonight! See the full moon rise near Jupiter and Neptune (Sept. 10)

By Brett Tingley published

September's full moon, the Harvest Moon, will be joined in the night sky by Jupiter and Neptune on Saturday (Sept. 10).

Sept 10 - Full Harvest Moon

An early Harvest Moon rises Saturday. Here's what to expect for September's full moon.

By Joe Rao published

The full moon of Saturday (Sept. 10) also carries the title of the Harvest Moon for those living in the Northern Hemisphere.

An image of the quarter moon

Interstellar objects might have crashed onto the moon

By Elizabeth Howell published

Hunting for interstellar objects in our solar system may have a new venue: the moon. Finding out if they crashed there likely will require astronauts to go hunting.

giant artemis 1 moon rocket on cloudy background at sunrise

NASA targets Sept. 23 for next Artemis 1 launch attempt, but a lot has to go right

By Tariq Malik published

NASA needs to fix a hydrogen leak, ace a fueling test and secure a critical safety system waiver to even try to launch this month.

On Thursday (Sept. 8), the moon and Saturn will make a close approach to each other sharing the same right ascension , an event  known as a conjunction.

See the conjunction of the moon and Saturn on Thursday (Sept. 8)

By Robert Lea published

Every month the moon pairs up with Saturn and in September this conjunction will be seen in the evening time, visible with the naked eye.

Making territorial claims in space is illegal under international law.

Moon mining claims fall into gray area of international law, so how to avoid conflict?

By Michelle L.D. Hanlon published

It's been 50 years since humans last visited the moon, and even robotic missions have been few and far between. But the Earth's only natural satellite is about to get crowded.