https://phys.org/news/2025-03-blue-ghost-lander-captures-stunning.html Phys.org Topics * Week's top * Latest news * Unread news * Subscribe [ ] Science X Account [ ] [ ] [*] Remember me Sign In Click here to sign in with or Forget Password? Not a member? Sign up Learn more * Nanotechnology * Physics * Earth * Astronomy & Space * Chemistry * Biology * Other Sciences * Medical Xpress Medicine * Tech Xplore Technology [INS::INS] * * share this! * 96 * Tweet * Share * Email 1. Home 2. Astronomy & Space 3. Space Exploration * * * --------------------------------------------------------------------- March 19, 2025 The GIST Editors' notes This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked reputable news agency proofread Blue Ghost lander captures stunning sunset shots on the moon before falling silent by Marcia Dunn Blue Ghost lander captures stunning sunset shots on the moon before falling silent This image provided by NASA/Firefly Aerospace, Tuesday, March 18, 2025, shows the sun setting on the moon, with Earth and Venus in the distance. Credit: NASA/Firefly Aerospace via AP A private lunar lander has captured the first high-definition sunset pictures from the moon. Firefly Aerospace and NASA released the stunning photos Tuesday, taken before the Blue Ghost lander fell silent over the weekend. One shot included Venus in the distance. Firefly's Blue Ghost landed on the moon on March 2, the first private spacecraft to touch down upright and perform its entire mission. It kept taking pictures and collecting science data five hours into the lunar night before it died for lack of solar energy. * Blue Ghost lander captures stunning sunset shots on the moon before falling silent This image provided by NASA/Firefly Aerospace shows the sun about to emerge from totality behind Earth. Credit: NASA/Firefly Aerospace via AP * Blue Ghost lander captures stunning sunset shots on the moon before falling silent This image provided by NASA/Firefly Aerospace, Tuesday, March 18, 2025, shows the sun setting on the moon, with Earth and Venus in the distance. Credit: NASA/Firefly Aerospace via AP * Blue Ghost lander captures stunning sunset shots on the moon before falling silent This image provided by NASA/Firefly Aerospace shows Earth captured by Blue Ghost shortly after landing from the lunar surface. Credit: NASA/Firefly Aerospace via AP NASA's Joel Kearns said Blue Ghost's series of sunset shots are the first high-resolution images from Earth's neighbor. Scientists will need to analyze them in depth, he noted, before making any determination about the horizon glow captured in at least one of the photos and whether it was created by levitating dust. That theory was put forth more than a half-century ago by Apollo 17's Gene Cernan, the last astronaut to walk on the moon. "What we've got is a really beautiful, aesthetic image showing some really unusual features," Kearns said at a news conference. Blue Ghost carried 10 experiments for NASA under the space agency's commercial lunar delivery program. While all objectives were met, officials said, the on-board drill could only penetrate 3 feet (1 meter) into the moon versus the 10 feet (3 meters) that had been planned. Firefly said it will try to activate the lunar lander in early April following the two-week, bitter cold lunar night, although engineers are doubtful it will crank back up. (c) 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Citation: Blue Ghost lander captures stunning sunset shots on the moon before falling silent (2025, March 19) retrieved 22 March 2025 from https://phys.org/news/ 2025-03-blue-ghost-lander-captures-stunning.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. 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The images, released by Firefly Aerospace and NASA, may provide insights into lunar horizon glow, potentially caused by levitating dust. The lander, part of NASA's commercial lunar delivery program, completed its mission despite a drill not reaching its intended depth. This summary was automatically generated using LLM. Full disclaimer Let us know if there is a problem with our content Use this form if you have come across a typo, inaccuracy or would like to send an edit request for the content on this page. For general inquiries, please use our contact form. For general feedback, use the public comments section below (please adhere to guidelines). Please select the most appropriate category to facilitate processing of your request [-- please select one -- ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Your message to the editors [ ] Your email (optional, only if you'd like a response) [ ] Send Feedback Thank you for taking time to provide your feedback to the editors. Your feedback is important to us. 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