Science

Witness History: ispace's Resilience Lander Touches Down on the Moon!

2025-06-04

Author: Wei Ling

Exciting Lunar Landing Ahead!

Get ready, space enthusiasts! This week, ispace's groundbreaking Resilience Lander is set to make history as it attempts a daring touchdown on the moon's Mare Frigoris region. Mark your calendars for June 5 at 3:17 p.m. EDT (1817 GMT)!

Mare Frigoris: The Sea of Cold Awaits!

Mare Frigoris, or the "Sea of Cold," is a stunning area formed billions of years ago when violent asteroid impacts flooded vast basins with lava. These cooled lava flows create the majestic dark patches we see today on the moon's surface.

Occupying an impressive 18,000 square kilometers (nearly 7,000 square miles), Mare Frigoris lies near the moon's north pole. Its average depth of approximately 124 miles (200 km) can make it tricky to spot with the naked eye.

Finding the Resilience Landing Zone!

While you won't be able to see the Resilience lander itself, spotting its landing zone is definitely possible! On the evenings leading up to June 5, gaze towards the southeastern sky after sunset for a better view of the lunar landscape.

For a closer look, grab some 10x50 binoculars, or even better, a telescope with at least a 6-inch aperture. This will help you catch the dark stretch of Mare Frigoris on the moon's northern side.

To pinpoint the Resilience Lander's future home, locate Aristotles Crater to the southeast of Mare Frigoris. From there, scan the northwest direction to find Archytas Crater and beyond it, Timaeus Crater. The Resilience Lander will be setting down near Timaeus, just to the left of Archytas!

Don’t Miss the Live Coverage!

The big moment is almost here! Tune in on June 5 at 2:10 p.m. EDT (1810 GMT/3:10 a.m. JST on June 6) for the live stream of the lunar landing on Space.com, courtesy of ispace. Experience this monumental occasion with commentary available in both English and Japanese!

A Step Toward the Future!

As we watch the Resilience Lander attempting its lunar landing, we are not just witnessing a remarkable event in space exploration; we are taking a giant leap toward our future endeavors on the moon and beyond!