Where it Happened

Mons Latreille, a majestic mountain located in the Mare Crisium, also known as the 'Sea of Crises.'

When the Images Were Released

March 18, 2025.

What Makes It Special

The Blue Ghost lander, which successfully touched down on the moon on March 2, 2025, provided an unparalleled view of the lunar horizon as the sun dipped below the surface. This remarkable event took place in proximity to the iconic Sea of Tranquility, the landing site of the historic Apollo 11 mission in 1969. The photographs reveal a glowing horizon, beautifully showcasing the Earth and Venus—the latter appearing as a shimmering dot to the upper right of the sun, while our planet shines brightly to the upper left.

Unlike Earth, where sunsets are routine, lunar sunsets are a rare and fleeting spectacle. Due to the moon’s synchronous rotation with Earth, one complete day (from sunrise to sunset) spans an astonishing 14.5 Earth days—the exact duration it takes for the moon to orbit our planet.

The Blue Ghost mission, which launched on January 15, effectively used solar power for just over two weeks, a testament to its innovative design. After landing, it operated under the sun until it switched to battery power on March 16, ultimately 'going dark' at 7:15 PM EDT that evening, just five hours after transmitting its last mesmerizing images.

The mission came full circle as Blue Ghost had initially begun its journey by capturing an image of a lunar sunrise on March 3. Highlighting its multifaceted capabilities, the spacecraft also documented a total lunar eclipse from Earth’s vantage point on March 14 and witnessed a stunning solar eclipse from the unique perspective of the lunar surface.

Dubbed 'Ghost Riders in the Sky,' the Blue Ghost Mission 1 set a new record as the longest commercial mission on the moon to date. Nicky Fox, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, stated, 'Firefly's Blue Ghost Mission 1 marks the longest surface duration commercial mission on the moon to date, collecting extraordinary science data that will benefit humanity for decades to come.'

As excitement builds around potential future lunar missions, this incredible imagery not only fuels our fascination with the cosmos but also represents a giant leap for commercial space exploration and research. Stay tuned for more breathtaking discoveries from our celestial neighbor!