#moon-exploration

Eid 2025 in India: Will Eid-ul-Fitr Be Celebrated on March 30 or March 31
Eid-ul-Fitr is one of the most significant festivals for Muslims across the globe. It marks the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting, prayer, and reflection. The festival is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar (Hijri), and its exact date depends on the sighting of the crescent moon. Eid-ul-Fitr 2025 Date in India In India, Eid-ul-Fitr is likely to be observed either on March 30 (Sunday) or March 31
Eid 2025 in India: Will Eid-ul-Fitr Be Celebrated on March 30 or March 31
Eid-ul-Fitr is one of the most significant festivals for Muslims across the globe. It marks the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting, prayer, and reflection. The festival is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar (Hijri), and its exact date depends on the sighting of the crescent moon. Eid-ul-Fitr 2025 Date in India In India, Eid-ul-Fitr is likely to be observed either on March 30 (Sunday) or March 31

Blood Moon 2025: Stunning Lunar Eclipse Wows Americas, Europe, and Africa
The much-awaited Blood Moon graced the skies across several regions in the Americas, Western Europe, and Africa as skywatchers witnessed a mesmerizing total lunar eclipse. Enthusiasts on X (formerly Twitter) shared breathtaking photographs that showcased the Moon’s stunning transformation into a deep red shade, capturing this rare celestial event beautifully. The Moon’s red appearance occurred during the totality phase of the eclipse, a result of Rayleigh scattering. In this optic
Blood Moon 2025: Stunning Lunar Eclipse Wows Americas, Europe, and Africa
The much-awaited Blood Moon graced the skies across several regions in the Americas, Western Europe, and Africa as skywatchers witnessed a mesmerizing total lunar eclipse. Enthusiasts on X (formerly Twitter) shared breathtaking photographs that showcased the Moon’s stunning transformation into a deep red shade, capturing this rare celestial event beautifully. The Moon’s red appearance occurred during the totality phase of the eclipse, a result of Rayleigh scattering. In this optic

Chandrayaan-3 Reveals Lunar Ice Deposits May Be More Abundant and Accessible Than Expected
India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission has made groundbreaking discoveries about the presence of lunar ice, indicating that frozen water deposits may be more abundant and accessible than previously believed.The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully landed Chandrayaan-3 near the Moon's South Pole on August 23, 2023, marking a significant achievement in lunar exploration. New data from the mission has provided crucial insights into temperature variations that affect ice format
Chandrayaan-3 Reveals Lunar Ice Deposits May Be More Abundant and Accessible Than Expected
India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission has made groundbreaking discoveries about the presence of lunar ice, indicating that frozen water deposits may be more abundant and accessible than previously believed.The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully landed Chandrayaan-3 near the Moon's South Pole on August 23, 2023, marking a significant achievement in lunar exploration. New data from the mission has provided crucial insights into temperature variations that affect ice format

Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Lunar Lander Set for Historic Landing at Mons Latreille on the Moon
Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lunar lander is on track to achieve a historic landing on the Moon, marking a significant milestone in NASA’s lunar exploration efforts. As part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, Blue Ghost will play a key role in gathering scientific data to support future lunar missions under the Artemis program.The spacecraft has been steadily lowering its orbit around the Moon, performing a crucial engine burn to reduce its altitud
Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Lunar Lander Set for Historic Landing at Mons Latreille on the Moon
Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lunar lander is on track to achieve a historic landing on the Moon, marking a significant milestone in NASA’s lunar exploration efforts. As part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, Blue Ghost will play a key role in gathering scientific data to support future lunar missions under the Artemis program.The spacecraft has been steadily lowering its orbit around the Moon, performing a crucial engine burn to reduce its altitud

Construction of World’s Largest Telescope Dome Progresses in Chile
The Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), set to become the world's largest visible- and infrared-light telescope, is taking shape at its construction site atop Cerro Armazones in Chile's Atacama Desert. Managed by the European Southern Observatory (ESO), the ELT is expected to revolutionize astronomical research upon its completion, targeted for 2028. The telescope's dome, which spans an impressive 305 feet in diameter and rises 263 feet in height, has made significant progr
Construction of World’s Largest Telescope Dome Progresses in Chile
The Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), set to become the world's largest visible- and infrared-light telescope, is taking shape at its construction site atop Cerro Armazones in Chile's Atacama Desert. Managed by the European Southern Observatory (ESO), the ELT is expected to revolutionize astronomical research upon its completion, targeted for 2028. The telescope's dome, which spans an impressive 305 feet in diameter and rises 263 feet in height, has made significant progr

ISRO Chairman S Somanath Discusses Space Science Future in START 2025 Program
Overview of ISRO's START 2025 Program: ISRO Chairman S Somanath delivered a keynote speech at the launch of the Space Science and Technology Awareness Training (START 2025) program, emphasizing the role of space science beyond the excitement of becoming astronomers. He explained that space science involves rigorous and time-consuming work that requires years of persistent effort and expertise. He shared that this year’s program will involve 20,000 students from more than 560
ISRO Chairman S Somanath Discusses Space Science Future in START 2025 Program
Overview of ISRO's START 2025 Program: ISRO Chairman S Somanath delivered a keynote speech at the launch of the Space Science and Technology Awareness Training (START 2025) program, emphasizing the role of space science beyond the excitement of becoming astronomers. He explained that space science involves rigorous and time-consuming work that requires years of persistent effort and expertise. He shared that this year’s program will involve 20,000 students from more than 560

New Theory Suggests Pluto 'Kissed and Captured' Charon in Cosmic Encounter
A groundbreaking new theory suggests that Pluto's moon Charon may have been captured in a "kiss and capture" scenario billions of years ago, offering a fresh perspective on the formation of planetary systems. Led by NASA postdoctoral fellow Adeene Denton at the U of A Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, this study challenges long-standing models of moon formation. Instead of the traditional collision model, the researchers propose that Pluto and Charon had a brief, icy encounter, wh
New Theory Suggests Pluto 'Kissed and Captured' Charon in Cosmic Encounter
A groundbreaking new theory suggests that Pluto's moon Charon may have been captured in a "kiss and capture" scenario billions of years ago, offering a fresh perspective on the formation of planetary systems. Led by NASA postdoctoral fellow Adeene Denton at the U of A Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, this study challenges long-standing models of moon formation. Instead of the traditional collision model, the researchers propose that Pluto and Charon had a brief, icy encounter, wh

Rare Black Moon Tonight: A Unique Astronomical Event
Tonight, skywatchers will be treated to a rare and exciting astronomical event: a black moon, which is the second new moon to occur in December. While blue moons, or two full moons in a month, are relatively well-known, black moons are much rarer and are often misunderstood. A black moon occurs when the second new moon of the month takes place, and the new moon’s natural invisibility is further enhanced. As a result, this phenomenon makes it difficult to spot with the naked eye, but it
Rare Black Moon Tonight: A Unique Astronomical Event
Tonight, skywatchers will be treated to a rare and exciting astronomical event: a black moon, which is the second new moon to occur in December. While blue moons, or two full moons in a month, are relatively well-known, black moons are much rarer and are often misunderstood. A black moon occurs when the second new moon of the month takes place, and the new moon’s natural invisibility is further enhanced. As a result, this phenomenon makes it difficult to spot with the naked eye, but it

NASA Delays Artemis Lunar Missions Due to Technical Challenges
NASA has announced delays to its Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon. The first crewed lunar mission, Artemis 2, will now take place in April 2026, pushed back from its original launch window in September 2025. The second mission, Artemis 3, which seeks to land astronauts on the Moon for the first time in over 50 years, has been rescheduled from late 2026 to mid-2027. The delays, revealed on December 5, are attributed to technical issues discovered during the Ar
NASA Delays Artemis Lunar Missions Due to Technical Challenges
NASA has announced delays to its Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon. The first crewed lunar mission, Artemis 2, will now take place in April 2026, pushed back from its original launch window in September 2025. The second mission, Artemis 3, which seeks to land astronauts on the Moon for the first time in over 50 years, has been rescheduled from late 2026 to mid-2027. The delays, revealed on December 5, are attributed to technical issues discovered during the Ar

Deploying KM3NeT: Underwater Neutrino Telescope
The KM3NeT (Cubic Kilometre Neutrino Telescope) is an innovative scientific project aimed at detecting high-energy neutrinos in the Mediterranean Sea. This project involves deploying two massive underwater telescopes equipped with photomultiplier tubes to capture light from neutrinos interacting with seawater. One telescope is located off the coast of Sicily to observe cosmic neutrinos, while the other off the French coast focuses on studying atmospheric neutrinos and their o
Deploying KM3NeT: Underwater Neutrino Telescope
The KM3NeT (Cubic Kilometre Neutrino Telescope) is an innovative scientific project aimed at detecting high-energy neutrinos in the Mediterranean Sea. This project involves deploying two massive underwater telescopes equipped with photomultiplier tubes to capture light from neutrinos interacting with seawater. One telescope is located off the coast of Sicily to observe cosmic neutrinos, while the other off the French coast focuses on studying atmospheric neutrinos and their o

Countdown to NASA's Europa Clipper Mission: Launch Delayed by Hurricane
The countdown has officially begun for NASA's Europa Clipper mission, now scheduled to launch on Monday after a delay caused by Hurricane Milton, which impacted Florida last week. The storm resulted in damage to parts of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, but preparations have resumed for this ambitious mission. The Europa Clipper spacecraft will embark on an extraordinary journey, traveling 1.8 billion miles (2.9 billion km) to reach Jupiter, with an anticipated arrival in April
Countdown to NASA's Europa Clipper Mission: Launch Delayed by Hurricane
The countdown has officially begun for NASA's Europa Clipper mission, now scheduled to launch on Monday after a delay caused by Hurricane Milton, which impacted Florida last week. The storm resulted in damage to parts of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, but preparations have resumed for this ambitious mission. The Europa Clipper spacecraft will embark on an extraordinary journey, traveling 1.8 billion miles (2.9 billion km) to reach Jupiter, with an anticipated arrival in April