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 

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Artist's illustration of a small moon rover on the lunar surface, with the blackness of space on the horizon.

Australia launching moon rover on NASA Artemis mission as soon as 2026

By Mike Wall published

Australia will launch its first moon rover as early as 2026, on one of NASA's Artemis missions. And you can help name the rover — if you're an Australian resident.

photo of the moon's surface taken from lunar orbit, showing many small craters in the gray terrain

India's Chandrayaan-3 moon lander spotted from lunar orbit (photo)

By Mike Wall published

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has snapped a photo of India's Chandrayaan-3 moon lander, the first craft ever to soft-land near the lunar south pole.

Chandrayaan 3 mission's Vikram lander photographed on the moon's surface by the Pragyan rover.

Chandrayaan-3 rover and lander in sleep mode but might wake up later this month

By Tereza Pultarova published

India's Chandrayaan-3 lunar rover and lander have completed their primary mission goals and have been placed into sleep mode ahead of the upcoming two-week lunar night.

Night sky September 2023

See the moon meet up with Jupiter in the night sky tonight

By Robert Lea published

The moon will meet up with Jupiter throughout the night on Sept. 4, making a close approach to the solar system's largest planet in the night sky.

A crowd of engineers cheering with inset photo of spacecraft on moon

India's Chandrayaan-3 landed on the south pole of the moon − a space policy expert explains what this means for India and the global race to the moon

By Mariel Borowitz published

India made history as the first country to land near the south pole of the moon with its Chandrayaan-3 lander on Aug. 23, 2023.

An image of Pragyan (toward the top left of the screen) on the moon.

Watch Chandrayaan-3's Pragyan rover adorably avoid a lunar crater (video)

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

Chandrayaan-3's Pragyan moon rover was rerouted after it encountered a crater while exploring its new home.

a small crater appears on the moon's surface in a before-and-after animation

NASA moon orbiter spots crash site of Russia's failed Luna-25 lander (photos)

By Mike Wall published

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has found the spot where Russia's Luna-25 lander crashed into the moon earlier this month.

Black astronauts celebrate ISS, Artemis 2 moon missions while reflecting on history

By Elizabeth Howell published

Two Black astronauts spoke to Space.com about their experiences in space and what's coming next.

Chandrayaan 3 mission's Vikram lander photographed on the moon's surface by the Pragyan rover.

India's Chandrayaan-3 moon rover Pragyan snaps 1st photo of its lander near the lunar south pole

By Tereza Pultarova published

India's Pragyan moon rover photographed its mothership, the Vikram lander, for the first time as the two continue their exploration halfway through the Chandrayaan-3 mission.

night sky august 2023

See Saturn snuggle up to the Super Blue Moon in the night sky tonight

By Robert Lea published

The moon will have a close encounter with Saturn on Wednesday, Aug. 30 as the ringed gas giant sits just below the full Super Blue Moon.

Tracks in lunar soil made by the Pragyan rover.

India's Chandrayaan-3 moon rover reveals surprising sulfur find in lunar south pole soil

By Rahul Rao published

An instrument aboard the mission’s Pragyan rover has found traces of sulfur within the lunar south pole’s soil.

A nearly full moon rises above a treeline

The last Super Blue Moon until 2037 rises tonight. Here's how to see it

By Robert Lea published

Skywatchers get to see a second full moon this month on Wednesday (Aug. 30), and it is a special one: A rare unification of a Blue Moon and a "supermoon."

the gray surface of the moon can be seen beside the leg of a lunar lander

India to name Chandrayaan-3's moon landing site 'Shiv Shakti Point'

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

Chandrayaan-3's landing site near the moon's south pole will be named Shiv Shakti Point, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Saturday (Aug. 26).

A Blue Moon is a rare occurrence that depends on the timings of full moons during the year.

The rare Super Blue Moon rises tonight and you can watch it online for free

By Brett Tingley last updated

The Virtual Telescope Project will host a free livestream of the Super Blue Moon of 2023 starting at 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 30 (0330 GMT on Aug. 31).

the full moon in a dark sky

What time is the Super Blue Moon of 2023?

By Robert Lea published

The Blue Moon of 2023 and this year's third supermoon occurs on Wednesday, Aug. 30, so skywatchers will want to get their timing right to see the moon at its biggest and brightest.

Tracks in lunar soil made by the Pragyan rover.

India's Chandrayaan-3 takes the moon's temperature near lunar south pole for 1st time

By Monisha Ravisetti published

Chandrayaan-3 creates first temperature profile near the moon's south pole; ISRO offers more updates on the historic lunar mission.

Artist's illustration of India's Chandrayaan-3 lander and rover on the moon.

Pragyan, Vikram, Vikas: How did India's Chandrayaan-3 moon mission get its names?

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

As India steadily establishes its roots in space exploration, Sanskrit, whose use sharply declined after the 13th century, seems to be once again coming into the limelight.

Artist's illustration of two Artemis astronauts at work on the lunar surface.

Astronauts' immune systems could be disturbed by microgravity, scientists find

By Robert Lea published

As a new era of crewed space exploration comes into view, scientists are assessing the impacts of microgravity and space environments on astronauts' immune systems.

a full moon in a black sky

August's rare Super Blue Moon, the biggest full moon of 2023, rises tonight

By Joe Rao published

In addition to its "supermoon" status, this particular full moon will be the second to occur in the month of August, making the full moon on Aug. 30 also branded as a "Blue" moon.

a white and yellow rocket stands on a launch pad with hoses and tall antennas nearby

Japan will launch SLIM moon lander and space telescope today after delays. Here's how to watch it live.

By Elizabeth Howell last updated

Japan plans to launch a mini moon lander called SLIM and an X-ray space observatory atop a single rocket on Wednesday (Sept. 6), and you can watch it live.