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

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

NASA picks spacesuit maker for 1st Artemis moonwalkers

By Mike Wall published

NASA has selected Houston company Axiom Space to build the moon spacesuits for Artemis 3, a mission that aims to land astronauts near the lunar south pole in 2025 or 2026.

Luna 25 spacecraft

Russia delays launch of Luna 25 moon lander to 2023

By Leonard David published

Russia's reactivation of lunar exploration via its robotic Luna 25 lander has slipped to 2023.

September 7 - Bright Moon Passes Saturn

Saturn and a bright moon share the sky Wednesday (Sept. 7)

By Samantha Mathewson published

The waxing gibbous moon will pass near Saturn on Sept. 7 and 8. Meanwhile, the moon reaches perigee or its closest point along its orbit to the Earth.

photograph of rocket on launch pad

NASA to replace seal on leaky Artemis 1 moon rocket at the launch pad

By Mike Wall published

NASA will replace a seal in an attempt to fix the leak that scuttled last weekend's planned Artemis 1 moon launch — and it will do the work on the pad.

An illustration of a lunar base being built by several astronauts.

In Trouble on the Moon? A 911 Call for a Search and Rescue Organization

By Leonard David published

Given all of the planned international lunar activity, emergencies could happen that will call for the unconstrained mobilization of all possible aids.

An image of the moon shows the location of the Mare Imbrium basin. The mountain range that marks the northern rim of the basin will be visible from Earth on Sunday.

See the moon's Mare Imbrium mountains on Sunday (Sept. 4)

By Robert Lea published

On Sunday, September 4, using binoculars or a telescope sky watchers will be able to spot a spectacular mountain range on the moon, part of one of the largest craters in the solar system.

photograph of rocket on launch pad

Fuel leak on Artemis 1 moon rocket may take weeks to repair, NASA says

By Tariq Malik published

A fuel leak that thwarted NASA's second attempt to launch its new Artemis 1 moon rocket on Saturday (Sept. 3) will likely take weeks to fix, and may even force the megarocket off its launch pad.

China and Russia have been discussing an International Lunar Research Station at the south pole of the moon, to begin operating in the 2030s.

Not just Artemis: China and Russia plan to put boots on the moon, too

By Mike Wall published

China and Russia aim to build a base near the moon's south pole that could begin hosting crews by the mid-2030s.

astronaut kneeling on moon

The Artemis 1 mission marks the start of a new space race to mine the moon

By Cassandra Steer published

Artemis 1 marks the beginning of a new space race for lunar resources, and this time around, everybody wants to mine the moon.

An image of the quarter moon

See the first quarter moon on Saturday (Sept. 3)

By Robert Lea published

During the first quarter moon on Saturday (Sept. 3) the sun will illuminate half of the lunar surface.

NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission is scheduled to launch on Sept. 3, 2022.

NASA's Artemis 1 moon rocket going for 2nd launch try today

By Tariq Malik published

NASA is counting down for its second launch attempt of the Artemis 1 moon mission. The two-hour window opens today (Sept. 3) at 2:17 p.m. EDT (1817 GMT).

An illustration of the night sky on Friday (Sept. 2) with the moon visible in the claws of the Scorpion constellation.

Catch the moon near the claws of the Scorpius constellation Friday

By Samantha Mathewson published

See the moon shine near the claws of the Scorpius constellation just after dusk tonight (Sept. 2).

astronaut kneeling on moon

NASA is launching the 1st stage of the Artemis mission — here's why humans are going back to the moon

By Gretchen Benedix published

With the Artemis program, Earth as a global community has the opportunity to participate and push back the frontiers of human knowledge and innovation.

NASA's Artemis 1 stack on the pad at Kennedy Space Center on Sept. 1, 2022, two days before its planned launch toward the moon.

Artemis 1 traffic jam: NASA moon launch may draw crowd of 400,000

By Mike Wall published

A crowd the size of a major American city may turn out to watch NASA's Artemis 1 moon rocket lift off this weekend.

NASA's Artemis 1 stack on the pad ahead of its planned Sept. 3 liftoff attempt.

Artemis 1 moon mission is 'go' for Saturday launch, NASA says

By Mike Wall published

The Artemis 1 team has given the go-ahead to proceed with a liftoff attempt on Saturday (Sept. 3) from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

artemis 1 rocket lifting off from launch pad in illustration

How to watch NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission launch live in a 360-degree VR experience

By Elizabeth Howell published

"Artemis Ascending" will use virtual reality to let participants feel like they're beside the Artemis 1 mission as it lifts off no earlier than Saturday (Sept. 3).

Astrophotographer Anthony Lynch sent in this photo of the Harvest Moon, September 2013, taken at Phoenix Park in Dublin, Ireland.

Harvest Moon 2022: When and how to see September's full moon

By Jesse Emspak published

Reference The full moon of September 2022 also carries the title of the Harvest Moon for those living in the Northern Hemisphere.

Sofia's measurements overlaid on a three-dimensional map of the lunar surface.

Water on the moon is present even outside of dark craters, study confirms

By Tereza Pultarova published

New observations by the flying telescope SOFIA confirmed there is water on the illuminated surface of the moon.

a vertical solar array on the moon with robot lander and rover

These 3 companies will help NASA build vertical solar arrays for the moon

By Tariq Malik published

NASA has tapped three companies to help develop new solar array technologies for Artemis missions to the surface of the moon by astronauts and robots.

CAPSTONE in its halo-shaped lunar orbit.

NASA's tiny CAPSTONE moon probe is nearly 1 million miles from Earth

By Mike Wall published

CAPSTONE reached its farthest point from Earth on Friday afternoon (Aug. 26), getting a whopping 951,908 miles (1,531,948 kilometers) from its home planet.