NASA has confirmed that asteroid 2024 YR4, initially feared to be heading toward Earth, is now on course to hit the Moon. While Earth is safe from impact in 2032, scientists are closely monitoring the asteroid’s trajectory. What does this mean for future space threats?

Asteroid that threatened to hit Earth, could collide with Moon

Asteroid headed towards Earth could now smash into the Moon

Theia, a theoretical ancient planet about the size of Mars, is believed to have collided with Earth during its infancy, triggering debris that collected to later form the moon. However, contrary to popular belief, no remnants of Theia contributed to forming the moon and instead the lunar satellite is likely only made of material ejected from Earth because of the collision.
A new study suggests that Theia had little to do with the Moon taking shape and no parts of the ancient planet exist in the Moon's composition. A BBC report, citing the study, says that the debris that formed the moon only comprised material from Earth and nothing from Theia.
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Theia is believed to exist in Earth's core to date.
<h2>Is Moon all Earth?&nbsp;</h2>
Scientists studied 14 lunar rock samples and similar minerals from Earth. They compared the two and measured them for levels of oxygen-17, a rare isotope of oxygen. They found strikingly similar levels of the component in both sets of samples, thus deducing that the point of origin for both Earth and the Moon was the same.&nbsp;
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Since there was no other external material in the picture, they believe that the material ejected from Earth because of the collision with Theia, came together over several years to form the Moon as we know it today. Meanwhile, nothing from Theia contributed to its structure.
Andreas Pack from G&ouml;ttingen University, a part of the team of scientists that conducted the study, said, "One explanation is that Theia lost its rocky mantle in earlier collisions and then slammed into the early Earth like a metallic cannonball."
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<h2>Theia lies inside Earth?</h2>
He added that if this had happened, then Theia "would be part of Earth&rsquo;s core today, and the Moon would have formed from ejected material from Earth&rsquo;s mantle."
Meanwhile, the scientists also took a dive into the source of water on Earth. Theia is believed to have brought water to the planet, but that is only a theory. The study suggests that water was brought to Earth most likely by asteroids that collided with the planet long after the Moon was formed.
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A class of meteorites called enstatite chondrites could have brought water to Earth since the study found similar levels of oxygen-17 in the composition of these meteorites and the samples from Earth.
Theia has long fascinated scientists and it is also theorised to be the reason for the formation of continents on Earth and even impacted volcanic activity.

Theia and Earth did not combine to form Moon, a new study suggests. The Moon might be a part of only Earth, a sibling 384,400 kilometres away. Science & Tech Trending

Theia, a theoretical ancient planet about the size of Mars, is believed to have collided with Earth during its infancy, triggering debris that collected to later form the moon. However, contrary to popular belief, no remnants of Theia contributed to forming the moon and instead the lunar satellite is likely only made of material ejected from Earth because of the collision. A new study suggests that Theia had little to do with the Moon taking shape and no parts of the ancient planet exist in the Moon's composition. A BBC report, citing the study, says that the debris that formed the moon only comprised material from Earth and nothing from Theia. Also Read: Explainer: How ISRO's Chandrayaan-4 will bring Moon samples to Earth Theia is believed to exist in Earth's core to date. Is Moon all Earth? Scientists studied 14 lunar rock samples and similar minerals from Earth. They compared the two and measured them for levels of oxygen-17, a rare isotope of oxygen. They found strikingly similar levels of the component in both sets of samples, thus deducing that the point of origin for both Earth and the Moon was the same. Also Read: Cosmic explosions killed all life on Earth 445mn yrs ago and then again 73mn years later: Report Since there was no other external material in the picture, they believe that the material ejected from Earth because of the collision with Theia, came together over several years to form the Moon as we know it today. Meanwhile, nothing from Theia contributed to its structure. Andreas Pack from Göttingen University, a part of the team of scientists that conducted the study, said, "One explanation is that Theia lost its rocky mantle in earlier collisions and then slammed into the early Earth like a metallic cannonball." Also Read: Astronomers detect oxygen in the most distant galaxy ever found: 'I was astonished' Theia lies inside Earth? He added that if this had happened, then Theia "would be part of Earth’s core today, and the Moon would have formed from ejected material from Earth’s mantle." Meanwhile, the scientists also took a dive into the source of water on Earth. Theia is believed to have brought water to the planet, but that is only a theory. The study suggests that water was brought to Earth most likely by asteroids that collided with the planet long after the Moon was formed. Also Read: Pieces of lost continent found under Antarctica and India point to one thing A class of meteorites called enstatite chondrites could have brought water to Earth since the study found similar levels of oxygen-17 in the composition of these meteorites and the samples from Earth. Theia has long fascinated scientists and it is also theorised to be the reason for the formation of continents on Earth and even impacted volcanic activity.

When Theia smashed into Earth: The common DNA Moon and our planet share

Athena, a private lander sent to the moon last week, met an unexpected fate as it ended up inside a crater. While the world thought it was dead on arrival, Intuitive Machines, the company behind it, has now said that it sent one last message. The Houston-based aerospace company has shared Athena Lander&rsquo;s final moments and how it came alive for some time, sending valuable data. Intuitive Machines also released a 360-degree image of Athena&rsquo;s descent taken by the four cameras on it.
Athena took a week-long trip to the moon and reached on March 6. But it could not land on its intended site and ended up on its side in a shallow crater in the Moon&rsquo;s Mons Mouton region. After several attempts to establish contact, the lander was declared dead.&nbsp;
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However, Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus has now revealed it flickered to life and the &ldquo;mission pressed forward&rdquo; before it went down completely. The lander was carrying NASA science tools and instruments as part of NASA&rsquo;s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. The team accelerated payload operations just when it touched down which led to precious data being transmitted before Athena&rsquo;s batteries completely depleted. &ldquo;In just 12 hours of surface operations, we gathered extraordinarily valuable data for our customers,&rdquo; Altemus wrote in a statement.
<h2>The personal message sent by Athena</h2>
The lander sent what Altemus termed a "personal" message. "In the mission&rsquo;s final moments, Athena powered down. But unexpectedly, the lander woke up one last time, sending a transmission that resonated beyond technology&mdash;it was personal," Altemus wrote. "Athena&rsquo;s last data transmission contained the names of every Intuitive Machines team member who made her mission possible."
Also Read: <a title="Post View" href="../8776642" target="_self">'Once in 1,000 years...': NASA says asteroid 2024 YR4 can hit the Moon. Is Earth safe?</a>
<h2>What happened to Athena</h2>
Athena could not land on the intended site and ended up 820 feet away from it. Its altimeter failed, and the lander couldn&rsquo;t measure how far it was from the lunar surface. It hit a lunar plateau and toppled over, skidding on the dusty surface and ending up in a small crater. It kicked up dust while moving across the surface, which covered its solar panels ending all possibilities of using its solar panels for power.&nbsp;
Intuitive Machines sent its first mission to the moon in February 2024. Named Odysseus, it also failed to successfully land on the surface and ended up on its side. According to reports, one of its legs likely got caught during descent. However, it worked for seven days, and the company was credited with becoming the first to land a private lander on the moon.

Athena, the private lander sent to the moon was declared dead after it landed on its side. Intuitive Machines said it did send one last message. Science & Tech

Athena, a private lander sent to the moon last week, met an unexpected fate as it ended up inside a crater. While the world thought it was dead on arrival, Intuitive Machines, the company behind it, has now said that it sent one last message. The Houston-based aerospace company has shared Athena Lander’s final moments and how it came alive for some time, sending valuable data. Intuitive Machines also released a 360-degree image of Athena’s descent taken by the four cameras on it. Athena took a week-long trip to the moon and reached on March 6. But it could not land on its intended site and ended up on its side in a shallow crater in the Moon’s Mons Mouton region. After several attempts to establish contact, the lander was declared dead. Also Read: Terminator' on Moon: An X and V will appear soon. Here is when to watch However, Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus has now revealed it flickered to life and the “mission pressed forward” before it went down completely. The lander was carrying NASA science tools and instruments as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. The team accelerated payload operations just when it touched down which led to precious data being transmitted before Athena’s batteries completely depleted. “In just 12 hours of surface operations, we gathered extraordinarily valuable data for our customers,” Altemus wrote in a statement. The personal message sent by Athena The lander sent what Altemus termed a "personal" message. "In the mission’s final moments, Athena powered down. But unexpectedly, the lander woke up one last time, sending a transmission that resonated beyond technology—it was personal," Altemus wrote. "Athena’s last data transmission contained the names of every Intuitive Machines team member who made her mission possible." Also Read: 'Once in 1,000 years...': NASA says asteroid 2024 YR4 can hit the Moon. Is Earth safe? What happened to Athena Athena could not land on the intended site and ended up 820 feet away from it. Its altimeter failed, and the lander couldn’t measure how far it was from the lunar surface. It hit a lunar plateau and toppled over, skidding on the dusty surface and ending up in a small crater. It kicked up dust while moving across the surface, which covered its solar panels ending all possibilities of using its solar panels for power. Intuitive Machines sent its first mission to the moon in February 2024. Named Odysseus, it also failed to successfully land on the surface and ended up on its side. According to reports, one of its legs likely got caught during descent. However, it worked for seven days, and the company was credited with becoming the first to land a private lander on the moon.

Before it died, Athena sent a heartfelt message for 'everyone who made it possible'

A total lunar eclipse is set to turn the moon red, creating a stunning celestial event visible across the Western Hemisphere. Skywatchers in America and beyond will witness this breathtaking "Blood Moon." Find out when and where to watch this rare phenomenon!

Total lunar eclipse to turn Moon red across the western hemisphere

A recent study based on Chandrayaan-3 data suggests ice deposits may be more widespread beneath the Moon’s polar surface than previously thought. 

India: ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 Detects Hidden Ice Beneath Moon’s Surface | Space News | WION

Scientists have figured out the best place to land on the moon when humans return after over 50 years. India's moon mission, Chandrayaan 3, has revealed the best spot for people where they can mine water. The mission landed near the moon's south pole in August 2023, and the site was named Statio Shiv Shakti. A team of scientists studied the temperature data of the region and found something interesting.
Led by Durga Prasad of the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad, the team noticed that temperatures at the spacecraft's landing site fluctuated dramatically. Statio Shiv Shakti is a sunward-facing slope where temperatures can go as high as 82 degrees Celsius and plummet to -168.15 degrees C. However, only a metre away the terrain faced the pole, where the temperature reaches a high of 59 degrees C.
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<h2>Moon conditions on Earth</h2>
They created lunar conditions on Earth in a computer model, with topography and illumination being the same. The results showed that higher latitudes on the moon with slopes that face its poles are not as hot as other parts. Since these regions were found to typically receive less intense solar energy, the surface temperatures are cooler and could allow for the accumulation of ice at relatively shallow depths.&nbsp;
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They deduced that these areas might be less challenging for humans to access local resources as compared to the polar regions where the conditions are more extreme.
"Such sites are not only scientifically interesting but also pose less technical challenges for exploration in comparison with regions closer to the poles of the moon."
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<h2>Future landing sites on Moon</h2>
Humans are trying to return to the moon after over 50 years, but there are several challenges facing them. One such problem is taking essential resources with them. However, there is not a lot of it that spacecraft can be filled with, leaving them with only a limited quantity of food and water, besides other things.
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The latest finding can prove to be a boon for programs like Artemis aiming to send humans back to the moon in the next few years. NASA and other space agencies need to devise methods to find ice and harness it to make water. This water can not only be used for drinking but can be converted into rocket fuel by splitting water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen. This will make the missions more sustainable and cost-effective.

Science & Tech Trending | NASA is focussing on landing sites on the Moon for future missions, including the ambitious Artemis mission that aims to land humans on the moon.

Scientists have figured out the best place to land on the moon when humans return after over 50 years. India's moon mission, Chandrayaan 3, has revealed the best spot for people where they can mine water. The mission landed near the moon's south pole in August 2023, and the site was named Statio Shiv Shakti. A team of scientists studied the temperature data of the region and found something interesting. Led by Durga Prasad of the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad, the team noticed that temperatures at the spacecraft's landing site fluctuated dramatically. Statio Shiv Shakti is a sunward-facing slope where temperatures can go as high as 82 degrees Celsius and plummet to -168.15 degrees C. However, only a metre away the terrain faced the pole, where the temperature reaches a high of 59 degrees C. Also Read: Watch: Blue Ghost drills into lunar surface in awe-inspiring video. Look out for the moonrock Moon conditions on Earth They created lunar conditions on Earth in a computer model, with topography and illumination being the same. The results showed that higher latitudes on the moon with slopes that face its poles are not as hot as other parts. Since these regions were found to typically receive less intense solar energy, the surface temperatures are cooler and could allow for the accumulation of ice at relatively shallow depths. Also Read: '200 million light years': Radio burst reaches Earth from other side of the universe They deduced that these areas might be less challenging for humans to access local resources as compared to the polar regions where the conditions are more extreme. "Such sites are not only scientifically interesting but also pose less technical challenges for exploration in comparison with regions closer to the poles of the moon." Also Read: NASA orbiter clicks a photo of Blue Ghost on the moon Future landing sites on Moon Humans are trying to return to the moon after over 50 years, but there are several challenges facing them. One such problem is taking essential resources with them. However, there is not a lot of it that spacecraft can be filled with, leaving them with only a limited quantity of food and water, besides other things. Also Read: God exists, and the proof lies in a mathematical equation, expert says The latest finding can prove to be a boon for programs like Artemis aiming to send humans back to the moon in the next few years. NASA and other space agencies need to devise methods to find ice and harness it to make water. This water can not only be used for drinking but can be converted into rocket fuel by splitting water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen. This will make the missions more sustainable and cost-effective.

Chandrayaan 3 landing site Statio Shiv Shakti hints at mineable ice on moon

New thermal readings from India’s lunar mission suggest the south pole may hold more accessible ice, offering hope for future space exploration. Watch this report for more details!

India's Chandrayaan-3 mission uncovers hidden water network on lunar surface

Chandrayaan-3 finds more water on moon

Chandrayaan-3: India's mission uncovers hidden water network across lunar surface

Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander is on the moon and is busy at work. One of the payloads it carried has successfully drilled into the lunar surface and collected and transferred the soil. This was touted to be one of the most exciting experiments to be carried out by one of the lander's Ghostriders.
Detailing the activity, Firefly shared on X, "Lunar PlanetVac for example successfully collected, transferred, and sorted lunar soil from the Moon using pressurized nitrogen gas. Congrats to the @HB_Robotics and NASA team!"
The post was accompanied by a short video shot by the lander showing the drilling and lunar soil flying away.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m7ymic5h-sd0tah38-xpd9q2f9">
Just over 4 days on the Moon's surface and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueGhost?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueGhost</a> is checking off several science milestones! 8 out of 10 <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASA</a> payloads, including LPV, EDS, NGLR, RAC, RadPC, LuGRE, LISTER, and SCALPSS, have already met their mission objectives with more to come. Lunar PlanetVac for example&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/i7pOg70qYi">pic.twitter.com/i7pOg70qYi</a>
&mdash; Firefly Aerospace (@Firefly_Space) <a href="https://twitter.com/Firefly_Space/status/1897672761763307731?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
Blue Ghost landed on the Moon on Sunday (March 2) and since then has deployed several payloads. The company said that eight out of 10 payloads have already met their mission goals.&nbsp;
"Just over 4 days on the Moon's surface and #BlueGhost is checking off several science milestones! 8 out of 10 @NASA payloads, including LPV, EDS, NGLR, RAC, RadPC, LuGRE, LISTER, and SCALPSS, have already met their mission objectives with more to come," the company posted.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/sunrise-on-the-moon-photo-by-blue-ghost-ghostriders-8775980" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'GhostRiders' on Blue Ghost click sunrise on the moon, get ready to kick up some dust</a>
There is still a lot more to be done in the coming days. The lander will work throughout the 14 days of lunar day and aims to accomplish more objectives.
<h2>Artemis missions</h2>
Blue Ghost is part of NASA's mission to study the moon and prepare for its future endeavour of sending humans there. The Artemis missions have been much talked about and the space agency will soon send a team of astronauts who will hover around the moon to see how the human body reacts to the environment.
The results will be used to prepare for the next leg of the Artemis mission which aims to land people on the moon once again after over 50 years.&nbsp;
<h2>Sunrise on the moon</h2>
Blue Ghost landed on the moon right before the lunar day was to begin. While the lander is working, it did not forget to soak in the environment. It clicked a photo of the stunning sunrise on the moon that had the world in awe.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m7ymgwix-9ue4ftv8-yxu3appr">
Rise and shine! Firefly&rsquo;s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueGhost?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueGhost</a> lander captured its first sunrise on the Moon, marking the beginning of the lunar day and the start of surface operations in its new home. Our <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GhostRiders?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GhostRiders</a> have already begun operating many of the 10 <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASA</a> payloads aboard the lander and will&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/YI9nuFZfmk">pic.twitter.com/YI9nuFZfmk</a>
&mdash; Firefly Aerospace (@Firefly_Space) <a href="https://twitter.com/Firefly_Space/status/1896561229151305925?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
Meanwhile, another moon lander, NASA's second private mission Athena, developed by Intuitive Machines reached the Moon on March 6 but could manage only a partial landing being tilted on its side.

Science & Tech | Trending | Blue Ghost dug up lunar soil as part of its mission. The private lander reached the Moon on Sunday (March 2) and has deployed several payloads.

Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander is on the moon and is busy at work. One of the payloads it carried has successfully drilled into the lunar surface and collected and transferred the soil. This was touted to be one of the most exciting experiments to be carried out by one of the lander's Ghostriders. Detailing the activity, Firefly shared on X, "Lunar PlanetVac for example successfully collected, transferred, and sorted lunar soil from the Moon using pressurized nitrogen gas. Congrats to the @HB_Robotics and NASA team!" The post was accompanied by a short video shot by the lander showing the drilling and lunar soil flying away. Just over 4 days on the Moon's surface and #BlueGhost is checking off several science milestones! 8 out of 10 @NASA payloads, including LPV, EDS, NGLR, RAC, RadPC, LuGRE, LISTER, and SCALPSS, have already met their mission objectives with more to come. Lunar PlanetVac for example… pic.twitter.com/i7pOg70qYi — Firefly Aerospace (@Firefly_Space) March 6, 2025 Blue Ghost landed on the Moon on Sunday (March 2) and since then has deployed several payloads. The company said that eight out of 10 payloads have already met their mission goals. "Just over 4 days on the Moon's surface and #BlueGhost is checking off several science milestones! 8 out of 10 @NASA payloads, including LPV, EDS, NGLR, RAC, RadPC, LuGRE, LISTER, and SCALPSS, have already met their mission objectives with more to come," the company posted. Also Read: 'GhostRiders' on Blue Ghost click sunrise on the moon, get ready to kick up some dust There is still a lot more to be done in the coming days. The lander will work throughout the 14 days of lunar day and aims to accomplish more objectives. Artemis missions Blue Ghost is part of NASA's mission to study the moon and prepare for its future endeavour of sending humans there. The Artemis missions have been much talked about and the space agency will soon send a team of astronauts who will hover around the moon to see how the human body reacts to the environment. The results will be used to prepare for the next leg of the Artemis mission which aims to land people on the moon once again after over 50 years. Sunrise on the moon Blue Ghost landed on the moon right before the lunar day was to begin. While the lander is working, it did not forget to soak in the environment. It clicked a photo of the stunning sunrise on the moon that had the world in awe. Rise and shine! Firefly’s #BlueGhost lander captured its first sunrise on the Moon, marking the beginning of the lunar day and the start of surface operations in its new home. Our #GhostRiders have already begun operating many of the 10 @NASA payloads aboard the lander and will… pic.twitter.com/YI9nuFZfmk — Firefly Aerospace (@Firefly_Space) March 3, 2025 Meanwhile, another moon lander, NASA's second private mission Athena, developed by Intuitive Machines reached the Moon on March 6 but could manage only a partial landing being tilted on its side.

Watch: Blue Ghost drills into lunar surface in awe-inspiring video. Look out for the moonrock

NASA&rsquo;s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has clicked a photo of Firefly Aerospace&rsquo;s Blue Ghost lander sitting pretty on the surface of the Moon. The orbiter took the image from a distance of 175 kilometres, putting on display the amazing power of the orbiter&rsquo;s surveillance prowess. Its Narrow Angle Cameras achieved the feat on March 2, 2025, the same day Blue Ghost landed.
The photo of Blue Ghost on the lunar surface was shared by NASA, although it is hard to spot the spacecraft that became only the second private lander to touchdown on the rocky terrain of our satellite. The photo shows a white speck casting a shadow on the rocky land below.
The lunar mountain Mons Latreille, a solitary lunar peak in the vast basin Mare Crisium ("Sea of Crises"), can also be seen in the lower-left corner of the image.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/sunrise-on-the-moon-photo-by-blue-ghost-ghostriders-8775980" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'GhostRiders' on Blue Ghost click sunrise on the moon, get ready to kick up some dust</a>
The lander has already started working on its mission which has been named Ghost Riders in the Sky &nbsp;As part of it, 10 NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) demonstration instruments have been sent aboard the spacecraft. It has started deploying payloads, collecting rocks and taking pictures.&nbsp;
<h2>Sunrise on moon</h2>
Firefly recently shared a photo of the sunrise on the moon. The image, shared on X on Monday (Mar 3), showed a bright sunrise with several craters clearly visible.
"Rise and shine! Firefly's Blue Ghost lander captured its first sunrise on the moon, marking the beginning of the lunar day and the start of surface operations in its new home," the post reads.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m7x3xr8j-w8t52ipe-uguwvyii">
Rise and shine! Firefly&rsquo;s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueGhost?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueGhost</a> lander captured its first sunrise on the Moon, marking the beginning of the lunar day and the start of surface operations in its new home. Our <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GhostRiders?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GhostRiders</a> have already begun operating many of the 10 <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASA</a> payloads aboard the lander and will&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/YI9nuFZfmk">pic.twitter.com/YI9nuFZfmk</a>
&mdash; Firefly Aerospace (@Firefly_Space) <a href="https://twitter.com/Firefly_Space/status/1896561229151305925?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
The lander will spend two weeks studying the moon and its surroundings in preparation for future missions.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/millions-of-alien-invaders-from-alpha-centauri-lurking-in-solar-system-8826962" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">38 trillion kilometres: Millions of alien intruders from Alpha Centauri lurking in solar system</a>
NASA is aiming to land humans on the moon as part of its Artemis mission. Before that, they will send a crewer flight which will hover around the lunar body and gather data on the environment.
The Blue Ghost will also study the geology of the moon and its composition. It also aims to learn about space weather and how heat flows on the moon. It will then drill into the surface to see how lunar dust levitates on the surface at sunset.

NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter took a photo of the Blue Ghose lander from a distance of 175 kilometres. It appears as a white speck on the rugged lunar surface.

NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has clicked a photo of Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander sitting pretty on the surface of the Moon. The orbiter took the image from a distance of 175 kilometres, putting on display the amazing power of the orbiter’s surveillance prowess. Its Narrow Angle Cameras achieved the feat on March 2, 2025, the same day Blue Ghost landed. The photo of Blue Ghost on the lunar surface was shared by NASA, although it is hard to spot the spacecraft that became only the second private lander to touchdown on the rocky terrain of our satellite. The photo shows a white speck casting a shadow on the rocky land below. The lunar mountain Mons Latreille, a solitary lunar peak in the vast basin Mare Crisium ("Sea of Crises"), can also be seen in the lower-left corner of the image. Also Read: 'GhostRiders' on Blue Ghost click sunrise on the moon, get ready to kick up some dust The lander has already started working on its mission which has been named Ghost Riders in the Sky As part of it, 10 NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) demonstration instruments have been sent aboard the spacecraft. It has started deploying payloads, collecting rocks and taking pictures. Sunrise on moon Firefly recently shared a photo of the sunrise on the moon. The image, shared on X on Monday (Mar 3), showed a bright sunrise with several craters clearly visible. "Rise and shine! Firefly's Blue Ghost lander captured its first sunrise on the moon, marking the beginning of the lunar day and the start of surface operations in its new home," the post reads. Rise and shine! Firefly’s #BlueGhost lander captured its first sunrise on the Moon, marking the beginning of the lunar day and the start of surface operations in its new home. Our #GhostRiders have already begun operating many of the 10 @NASA payloads aboard the lander and will… pic.twitter.com/YI9nuFZfmk — Firefly Aerospace (@Firefly_Space) March 3, 2025 The lander will spend two weeks studying the moon and its surroundings in preparation for future missions. Also Read: 38 trillion kilometres: Millions of alien intruders from Alpha Centauri lurking in solar system NASA is aiming to land humans on the moon as part of its Artemis mission. Before that, they will send a crewer flight which will hover around the lunar body and gather data on the environment. The Blue Ghost will also study the geology of the moon and its composition. It also aims to learn about space weather and how heat flows on the moon. It will then drill into the surface to see how lunar dust levitates on the surface at sunset.

NASA orbiter clicks a photo of Blue Ghost on the moon

NASA has successfully tracked GPS signals on the Moon for the first time, marking a major breakthrough in lunar navigation. This achievement could revolutionize space travel, enabling precise positioning for future lunar missions and beyond. How will this impact space exploration?

New technology: NASA tracks GPS signals on the Moon for the first time

NASA achieves breakthrough: GPS signals successfully tracked on the Moon

Asteroid 2024 YR4 presented a massive scare in recent weeks when scientists noticed that the space rock might make an impact on Earth in the year 2032. However, after several calculations, NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) have ruled out that it is a risk. But turns out that our satellite, the moon, is not out of the woods. It seems the asteroid is heading its way now.
2024 YR4 has been keeping scientists on their toes ever since it emerged that it might impact our planet on Dec 22, 2032. It started off with a one in 83 chance of a direct hit and the potential to cause "severe damage to a local region".
Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/asteroid-impact-in-2032-scientists-are-preparing-for-a-potential-hit-8669829" rel="dofollow"> Asteroid to hit Earth in 2032? Scientists warn of space rock that can cause 'severe damage'</a>
That risk at one point rose to one in a 32 chance of an impact. The region of impact was calculated to be somewhere across the eastern Pacific Ocean, northern South America, the Atlantic Ocean, Africa, the Arabian Sea, or South Asia.
But Earthlings can now heave a sigh of relief. From as high as 3.1 per cent, the risk of impact is now down to just 0.001 per cent. The asteroid is about the size of a football pitch, which is 131 to 295 feet (40 to 90 metres) wide.&nbsp;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/asteroid-donaldjohanson-photo-70-million-kilometres-from-lucy-8761779" rel="dofollow">70 million kilometres away, Lucy targets asteroid Donaldjohanson</a>
But just as it seemed all was fine now, scientists say that the asteroid might now become a threat to our moon. According to NASA, 2024 YR4 has a slight chance of hitting the Moon. The odds have risen to one in 55 (1.8 per cent chance). The space agency has predicted this number to grow in the coming weeks.
&ldquo;There still remains a very small chance for asteroid 2024 YR4 to impact the Moon,&rdquo; a NASA spokesperson said.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/asteroid-bennu-sample-proves-humans-are-in-fact-made-of-stardust-study-8674099" rel="dofollow">Asteroid Bennu sample proves humans are, in fact, made of stardust: Study</a>
<h2>When will asteroid 2024 YR4 hit the Moon?</h2>
The predicted impact with the Moon is expected to happen around the same window as was predicted for Earth - Dec 2032.&nbsp;
Lindley Johnson, Planetary Defense Officer Emeritus with NASA, was quoted as saying by the Houston Chronicle that an impact between the asteroid of this size and the moon would be a very rare occurrence. He says something like this only happens once in a thousand years.&nbsp;
While this won't affect Earth in any way, the resulting crater and the swirling debris in the form of meteoroids can impact future moon missions, besides man-made craft and other objects on the moon's surface.&nbsp;
<h2>Studying asteroid 2024 YR4</h2>
NASA and ESA plan on studying asteroid 2024 YR4 when it makes an extremely close approach to Earth in 2032. It would present the perfect opportunity to learn about its composition and ultimately its origin.&nbsp;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/nasa-bumps-up-probability-of-city-killer-asteroid-2024-yr4-slamming-into-our-planet-earth-in-8-years-8735944" rel="dofollow">NASA bumps up probability of 'city killer' asteroid 2024-YR4 slamming into our planet Earth in 8 years</a>
For now, NASA will aim the James Webb Space Telescope at the asteroid in the coming weeks to see it up close. But they only have a few weeks to look at it since it will soon become invisible as it moves away from Earth. It won't return to sight before 2028, and who knows, things might change at the time.
Asteroid 2024 YR4 is a near-Earth object and was first spotted by a telescope in Chile on Dec 24, 2024.

Science & Tech Trending | An impact between asteroid 2024 YR4 and the Moon can happen in Dec 2032. Moon missions and spacecraft might take the hit. Will Earth be spared?

Asteroid 2024 YR4 presented a massive scare in recent weeks when scientists noticed that the space rock might make an impact on Earth in the year 2032. However, after several calculations, NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) have ruled out that it is a risk. But turns out that our satellite, the moon, is not out of the woods. It seems the asteroid is heading its way now. 2024 YR4 has been keeping scientists on their toes ever since it emerged that it might impact our planet on Dec 22, 2032. It started off with a one in 83 chance of a direct hit and the potential to cause "severe damage to a local region". Also Read: Asteroid to hit Earth in 2032? Scientists warn of space rock that can cause 'severe damage' That risk at one point rose to one in a 32 chance of an impact. The region of impact was calculated to be somewhere across the eastern Pacific Ocean, northern South America, the Atlantic Ocean, Africa, the Arabian Sea, or South Asia. But Earthlings can now heave a sigh of relief. From as high as 3.1 per cent, the risk of impact is now down to just 0.001 per cent. The asteroid is about the size of a football pitch, which is 131 to 295 feet (40 to 90 metres) wide. Also Read: 70 million kilometres away, Lucy targets asteroid Donaldjohanson But just as it seemed all was fine now, scientists say that the asteroid might now become a threat to our moon. According to NASA, 2024 YR4 has a slight chance of hitting the Moon. The odds have risen to one in 55 (1.8 per cent chance). The space agency has predicted this number to grow in the coming weeks. “There still remains a very small chance for asteroid 2024 YR4 to impact the Moon,” a NASA spokesperson said. Also Read: Asteroid Bennu sample proves humans are, in fact, made of stardust: Study When will asteroid 2024 YR4 hit the Moon? The predicted impact with the Moon is expected to happen around the same window as was predicted for Earth - Dec 2032. Lindley Johnson, Planetary Defense Officer Emeritus with NASA, was quoted as saying by the Houston Chronicle that an impact between the asteroid of this size and the moon would be a very rare occurrence. He says something like this only happens once in a thousand years. While this won't affect Earth in any way, the resulting crater and the swirling debris in the form of meteoroids can impact future moon missions, besides man-made craft and other objects on the moon's surface. Studying asteroid 2024 YR4 NASA and ESA plan on studying asteroid 2024 YR4 when it makes an extremely close approach to Earth in 2032. It would present the perfect opportunity to learn about its composition and ultimately its origin. Also Read: NASA bumps up probability of 'city killer' asteroid 2024-YR4 slamming into our planet Earth in 8 years For now, NASA will aim the James Webb Space Telescope at the asteroid in the coming weeks to see it up close. But they only have a few weeks to look at it since it will soon become invisible as it moves away from Earth. It won't return to sight before 2028, and who knows, things might change at the time. Asteroid 2024 YR4 is a near-Earth object and was first spotted by a telescope in Chile on Dec 24, 2024.

'Once in 1,000 years...': NASA says asteroid 2024 YR4 can hit the Moon. Is Earth safe?

Moon will soon sport a giant X, and even a V, as it approaches a unique vantage point. People in North America will be able to see this occurrence using a pair of binoculars or a telescope this Thursday. This happens because of the 'terminator' that is present on each body in space that orbits the sun.
Before you gasp at the presence of an Arnold Schwarzenegger-style Terminator on cosmic bodies, let us clear that out for you. A terminator is a line that divides the day side and the night side of a body in space.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/sunrise-on-the-moon-photo-by-blue-ghost-ghostriders-8775980" rel="dofollow">'GhostRiders' on Blue Ghost click sunrise on the moon</a>
The unusual X and the V will appear at this terminator line, a feature that helps scientists witness the three-dimensional shape of our lunar satellite.
According to NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day website, at the terminator line, the moon's surface appears quite different because the sun is near the horizon. This leads to longer shadows, making it easier to "discern structures, giving us depth cues so that the two-dimensional image, when dominated by shadows, appears almost three-dimensional."
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/nasa-mars-mission-artemis-moon-missions-8739498" rel="dofollow">Mars in, moon out? NASA might go a different route under Isaacman</a>
As the process happens, shadows also start to appear for shorter structures. Astronomers say they start seeing several craters along the terminator "because their height makes them easier to discern there."
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/scientists-find-evidence-of-beaches-from-ancient-ocean-on-mars-8755306" rel="dofollow">Scientists find evidence of beaches from ancient ocean on Mars</a>
When humans set their gaze on these shadows, they usually start seeing some familiar figures, such as the letters X and V. This normally happens in the first quarter phase, for around an hour. David MF Chapman of the Halifax Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, who has captured images of the X, explains, "The Werner X does not leap out all at once but gradually appears over an interval of 2 hours and 20 minutes as the Sun rises on the spot."
<h2>When to see X and V on the moon?</h2>
If you are intrigued, then set your equipment towards the moon on March 6. The terminator will align with several features of the moon on this day, projecting the X and the V on the lunar body. Experts suggest that instead of looking for craters, focus on finding the X.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/alien-life-in-universe-sulfur-dioxide-gas-exoplanet-8746476" rel="dofollow">Aliens cannot live on a planet where this one element is present, scientists say</a>
The letter should begin to emerge at around 6 pm ET and will remain visible for around an hour.
<h2>Next appearances of X and V on the moon</h2>
If you are bummed by the fact that it won't be visible in your region, or if you should miss out on it, worry not. The strange occurrence is due to happen again on April 5 and June 3.

Science & Tech Trending News - The Moon has a terminator that leads to the appearance of some strange sights to the human eye. Are these sightings real or imaginary?

Moon will soon sport a giant X, and even a V, as it approaches a unique vantage point. People in North America will be able to see this occurrence using a pair of binoculars or a telescope this Thursday. This happens because of the 'terminator' that is present on each body in space that orbits the sun. Before you gasp at the presence of an Arnold Schwarzenegger-style Terminator on cosmic bodies, let us clear that out for you. A terminator is a line that divides the day side and the night side of a body in space. Also Read: 'GhostRiders' on Blue Ghost click sunrise on the moon The unusual X and the V will appear at this terminator line, a feature that helps scientists witness the three-dimensional shape of our lunar satellite. According to NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day website, at the terminator line, the moon's surface appears quite different because the sun is near the horizon. This leads to longer shadows, making it easier to "discern structures, giving us depth cues so that the two-dimensional image, when dominated by shadows, appears almost three-dimensional." Also Read: Mars in, moon out? NASA might go a different route under Isaacman As the process happens, shadows also start to appear for shorter structures. Astronomers say they start seeing several craters along the terminator "because their height makes them easier to discern there." Also Read: Scientists find evidence of beaches from ancient ocean on Mars When humans set their gaze on these shadows, they usually start seeing some familiar figures, such as the letters X and V. This normally happens in the first quarter phase, for around an hour. David MF Chapman of the Halifax Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, who has captured images of the X, explains, "The Werner X does not leap out all at once but gradually appears over an interval of 2 hours and 20 minutes as the Sun rises on the spot." When to see X and V on the moon? If you are intrigued, then set your equipment towards the moon on March 6. The terminator will align with several features of the moon on this day, projecting the X and the V on the lunar body. Experts suggest that instead of looking for craters, focus on finding the X. Also Read: Aliens cannot live on a planet where this one element is present, scientists say The letter should begin to emerge at around 6 pm ET and will remain visible for around an hour. Next appearances of X and V on the moon If you are bummed by the fact that it won't be visible in your region, or if you should miss out on it, worry not. The strange occurrence is due to happen again on April 5 and June 3.

'Terminator' on Moon: An X and V will appear soon. Here is when to watch

Private space exploration firm Firefly Aerospace has shared a stunning image of a sunrise on the moon, taken by its lunar lander, as it kickstarted its days-long operations on the lunar surface. The spacecraft, Blue Ghost, is busy working after a historic landing on Sunday (Mar 2).
The image, shared on&nbsp; X on Monday (Mar 3), showed a bright sunrise set against the arid lunar surface marked with several craters.
"Rise and shine! Firefly's Blue Ghost lander captured its first sunrise on the moon, marking the beginning of the lunar day and the start of surface operations in its new home," the post reads.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m7twg1e1-7uu0ntaq-3ybmk0ni">
Rise and shine! Firefly&rsquo;s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueGhost?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueGhost</a> lander captured its first sunrise on the Moon, marking the beginning of the lunar day and the start of surface operations in its new home. Our <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GhostRiders?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GhostRiders</a> have already begun operating many of the 10 <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASA</a> payloads aboard the lander and will&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/YI9nuFZfmk">pic.twitter.com/YI9nuFZfmk</a>
&mdash; Firefly Aerospace (@Firefly_Space) <a href="https://twitter.com/Firefly_Space/status/1896561229151305925?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
The sunrise marks the beginning of the lunar day that will last for 15 days before the extremely cold lunar night sets in.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/private-spacecraft-blue-ghost-lands-on-moon-firm-scripts-history-8772803" rel="dofollow">Blue Ghost Landing: US firm's spacecraft second private lander on moon</a>
The Blue Ghost lander made its descent in the northeastern region of the near side of the moon. It is sitting pretty near Mons Latreille, a solitary lunar peak in the vast basin Mare Crisium ("Sea of Crises").
<h2>GhostRiders on Blue Ghost</h2>
The company further shared that the lander's "GhostRiders have already begun operating many of the 10 NASA payloads" aboard the Blue Ghost.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/asteroid-donaldjohanson-photo-70-million-kilometres-from-lucy-8761779" rel="dofollow">70 million kilometres away, Lucy targets asteroid Donaldjohanson</a>
They will continue to operate for the next two weeks and "into the lunar night", Firefly Aerospace shared.
The experiments planned for Blue Ghost include studying the geology of the moon and the lunar composition. It will also carry work to learn more about space weather and how heat flows on the moon. The most exciting of them is the testing of the drilling technology.
<iframe width="600" height="auto" style="width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 4/3;" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="external-video publive-iframes-block" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/screenshot/2802_WION_MOON_12PM/00000002.jpg&amp;videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/2802_WION_MOON_12PM.mp4/index.m3u8&amp;duration=59&amp;tags=moon, blue ghost, spacecraft, nasa, world news" title="Blue Ghost lander sends stunning close-ups of the Moon " id="PL_iframe_block-m7twsjpg-b1p3lz4q-8cyncwz1"></iframe>
Cameras on the lander will take pictures of how lunar dust levitates on the surface at sunset.
<h2>Blue Ghost launch</h2>
Blue Ghost was launched on Jan 15 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Sharing the joy of achieving a historic feat, Firefly CEO Jason Kim said in an X post on Sunday, "Firefly is literally and figuratively over the moon."
"This bold, unstoppable team has proven we're well equipped to deliver reliable, affordable access to the moon, and we won't stop there," Kim continued. "With annual lunar missions, Firefly is paving the way for a lasting lunar presence that will help unlock access to the rest of the solar system for our nation, our partners and the world." Notably, Intuitive Machines' Odysseus was the first private lander on the moon that did so in February last year.
&nbsp;

Science & Tech Trending News - Blue Ghost lander has captured a beautiful sunrise on the moon. The sun's rays are extremely bright and sharp, contrasting with the rugged and dark background of the moon.

Private space exploration firm Firefly Aerospace has shared a stunning image of a sunrise on the moon, taken by its lunar lander, as it kickstarted its days-long operations on the lunar surface. The spacecraft, Blue Ghost, is busy working after a historic landing on Sunday (Mar 2). The image, shared on X on Monday (Mar 3), showed a bright sunrise set against the arid lunar surface marked with several craters. "Rise and shine! Firefly's Blue Ghost lander captured its first sunrise on the moon, marking the beginning of the lunar day and the start of surface operations in its new home," the post reads. Rise and shine! Firefly’s #BlueGhost lander captured its first sunrise on the Moon, marking the beginning of the lunar day and the start of surface operations in its new home. Our #GhostRiders have already begun operating many of the 10 @NASA payloads aboard the lander and will… pic.twitter.com/YI9nuFZfmk — Firefly Aerospace (@Firefly_Space) March 3, 2025 The sunrise marks the beginning of the lunar day that will last for 15 days before the extremely cold lunar night sets in. Also Read: Blue Ghost Landing: US firm's spacecraft second private lander on moon The Blue Ghost lander made its descent in the northeastern region of the near side of the moon. It is sitting pretty near Mons Latreille, a solitary lunar peak in the vast basin Mare Crisium ("Sea of Crises"). GhostRiders on Blue Ghost The company further shared that the lander's "GhostRiders have already begun operating many of the 10 NASA payloads" aboard the Blue Ghost. Also Read: 70 million kilometres away, Lucy targets asteroid Donaldjohanson They will continue to operate for the next two weeks and "into the lunar night", Firefly Aerospace shared. The experiments planned for Blue Ghost include studying the geology of the moon and the lunar composition. It will also carry work to learn more about space weather and how heat flows on the moon. The most exciting of them is the testing of the drilling technology. Cameras on the lander will take pictures of how lunar dust levitates on the surface at sunset. Blue Ghost launch Blue Ghost was launched on Jan 15 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Sharing the joy of achieving a historic feat, Firefly CEO Jason Kim said in an X post on Sunday, "Firefly is literally and figuratively over the moon." "This bold, unstoppable team has proven we're well equipped to deliver reliable, affordable access to the moon, and we won't stop there," Kim continued. "With annual lunar missions, Firefly is paving the way for a lasting lunar presence that will help unlock access to the rest of the solar system for our nation, our partners and the world." Notably, Intuitive Machines' Odysseus was the first private lander on the moon that did so in February last year.

'GhostRiders' on Blue Ghost click sunrise on the moon, get ready to kick up some dust

US-based firm Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost scripts history becomes the second private moon lander to make a soft-landing on the lunar surface. The company was carrying science and technology equipment to the lunar surface as part of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/nasa" rel="dofollow">NASA</a>&rsquo;s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. As the touchdown was complete the craft captured first images from Mare Crisium, a unique landing site.
"Would you look at that view! #BlueGhost captured its first image on the Moon that embodies everything this bold, unstoppable Firefly team has worked so hard for over the last 3+ years. And we&rsquo;re just getting started!," a tweet by the US firm revealed
According to the company's website, Blue Ghost is tasked to supply data, power and thermal resources for payload missions for around 2 months.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Would you look at that view! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueGhost?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueGhost</a> captured its first image on the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/moon" rel="dofollow">Moon </a>that embodies everything this bold, unstoppable Firefly team has worked so hard for over the last 3+ years. And we&rsquo;re just getting started! Find out what's next for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BGM1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BGM1</a> <a href="https://t.co/oEJhJu7KHx">https://t.co/oEJhJu7KHx</a> <a href="https://t.co/NsdljgQOpu">pic.twitter.com/NsdljgQOpu</a>
&mdash; Firefly Aerospace (@Firefly_Space) <a href="https://twitter.com/Firefly_Space/status/1896127381670367703?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/science-technology/25-million-light-years-away-nasas-hubble-space-telescope-discovers-36-dwarf-galaxies-inside-andromeda-8768230">'2.5 million light-years away': NASA's Hubble Space Telescope discovers 36 dwarf galaxies orbiting Andromeda</a>
<h2>Why is the landing site unique?</h2>
The landing site, Mare Crisium, was created after being impacted by an asteroid. 3 billion years ago, it was created by volcanic eruptions that flooded the basin with basaltic lava. This unique site will help 'gather critical data about the moon&rsquo;s regolith, geophysical characteristics, and the interaction of solar wind and Earth&rsquo;s magnetic field.'
<h2>1st private spacecraft to land on moon</h2>
The first private spacecraft to make a successful landing on the moon was Intuitive Machines' Odysseus. The landing took place on February 22, but the craft landed on the slop of a crater which later led to its collapse. Some landing gear was damaged and ultimately toppled, making it a short-lived mission.
They are currently working on another mission that is to land Athena, another spacecraft on the southern <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/lunar" rel="dofollow">lunar </a>surface. The mission announcement could come in less than a week's time.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/science-technology/game-changer-nasa-to-launch-spherex-telescope-on-march-4-8771144">'Game changer': NASA to launch SPHEREx Telescope on March 4</a>
<h2>About the team</h2>
Over 700 employees of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/us" rel="dofollow">US</a>-based firm FireFly worked relentlessly to make this feat a success. The company highlighted, 'These Ghost Riders are forging a highway to the Moon by enabling regular lunar access, advancing lunar research, and laying the groundwork for humans to have a lasting lunar presence.'&nbsp;

US-based firm Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost scripts history becomes the second private moon lander to make a soft-landing on the lunar surface. Science & Tech, Trending

US-based firm Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost scripts history becomes the second private moon lander to make a soft-landing on the lunar surface. The company was carrying science and technology equipment to the lunar surface as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. As the touchdown was complete the craft captured first images from Mare Crisium, a unique landing site. "Would you look at that view! #BlueGhost captured its first image on the Moon that embodies everything this bold, unstoppable Firefly team has worked so hard for over the last 3+ years. And we’re just getting started!," a tweet by the US firm revealed According to the company's website, Blue Ghost is tasked to supply data, power and thermal resources for payload missions for around 2 months. Would you look at that view! #BlueGhost captured its first image on the Moon that embodies everything this bold, unstoppable Firefly team has worked so hard for over the last 3+ years. And we’re just getting started! Find out what's next for #BGM1 https://t.co/oEJhJu7KHx pic.twitter.com/NsdljgQOpu — Firefly Aerospace (@Firefly_Space) March 2, 2025 Also Read: '2.5 million light-years away': NASA's Hubble Space Telescope discovers 36 dwarf galaxies orbiting Andromeda Why is the landing site unique? The landing site, Mare Crisium, was created after being impacted by an asteroid. 3 billion years ago, it was created by volcanic eruptions that flooded the basin with basaltic lava. This unique site will help 'gather critical data about the moon’s regolith, geophysical characteristics, and the interaction of solar wind and Earth’s magnetic field.' 1st private spacecraft to land on moon The first private spacecraft to make a successful landing on the moon was Intuitive Machines' Odysseus. The landing took place on February 22, but the craft landed on the slop of a crater which later led to its collapse. Some landing gear was damaged and ultimately toppled, making it a short-lived mission. They are currently working on another mission that is to land Athena, another spacecraft on the southern lunar surface. The mission announcement could come in less than a week's time. Also Read: 'Game changer': NASA to launch SPHEREx Telescope on March 4 About the team Over 700 employees of the US-based firm FireFly worked relentlessly to make this feat a success. The company highlighted, 'These Ghost Riders are forging a highway to the Moon by enabling regular lunar access, advancing lunar research, and laying the groundwork for humans to have a lasting lunar presence.'

Blue Ghost Landing: US firm's spacecraft second private lander on moon. Check out which was first

Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lunar lander has captured breathtaking images of the Moon, showcasing massive craters and detailed lunar terrain. Launched on January 15, the lander is heading toward Mare Crisium, offering a rare glimpse of Earth's closest celestial neighbor. Watch these incredible images from space.

Blue Ghost lander sends stunning close-ups of the Moon

The Moon's unique environment offers invaluable opportunities for astronomical research. However, large-scale mining operations could disrupt these scientific endeavors. For instance, the lunar far side provides a radio-quiet zone ideal for studying cosmic phenomena. Watch to know more.

Lunar Gold Rush: NASA rushing to mine the moon

In 2024, scientists came up with a strange theory that the Moon got substantially cooler during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the lockdown was the reason for it. The hypothesis forced normal people to think about the time when Earth was gripped by the pandemic in early 2020 and nations imposed lockdowns. But now, scientists have said that the two aspects - the pandemic and Moon's temperature - were not related.&nbsp;
Last year, scientists from the Physical Research Laboratory in India's Ahmedabad observed that lunar nighttime surface temperatures dipped substantially across six observation sites on the near side of the Moon between April and May 2020.&nbsp;
Their findings were published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/earth-faces-2032-collision-risk-scientists-track-potential-impact-threat-8697308">Earth faces 2032 collision risk; scientists track potential impact threat</a>
However, researchers from the Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&amp;T) and the University of West Indies (UWI) found issues with the hypothesis when they analysed the data closely.&nbsp;
In the latest study, published in the same journal, researchers noted that just like in 2020, there was also a dip in lunar temperatures in 2018. There was a steady decline in 2019. The collective timestamp doesn't align with the period of the Covid pandemic and its lockdowns.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/earths-temporary-mini-moon-may-have-been-a-piece-of-actual-moon-8662139">Earth's temporary &lsquo;mini moon&rsquo; may have been a piece of actual moon</a>
As quoted by Science Alert, civil engineer William Schonberg from Missouri S&amp;T said, "The idea that our activity, or lack of activity, on Earth would have a significant influence on the temperatures of the Moon &ndash; which is almost 240,000 miles from us &ndash; didn't seem likely, but we decided to keep an open mind and conduct additional research."&nbsp;
The study noted that the temperature readings gathered by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter suggest cyclical fluctuations instead of one significant dip.&nbsp;
In the latest article, the researchers said several factors are responsible for any change in Moon's temperature and also weighed in on a 2021 study which found that emissions reduction during the pandemic could only have affected the lower parts of Earth's atmosphere.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/hubble-space-telescope-nasas-plan-for-more-cosmic-discoveries-728929">Hubble Space Telescope faces a hiccup, but to stay in service for 'years to come'</a>
"We're not disputing that the temperatures did go down at different times during the time frame studied, but it seems to be a bit of a stretch to state with any certainty that human activity was the primary cause of this," Schonberg added.&nbsp;
In the conclusion of the new study, the researchers said that be it Covid or any other period, human activity is unlikely to have an impact on the temperatures on the Moon.&nbsp;
"During the Moon's nighttime, there is a small possibility that heat and radiation from Earth might have a very small effect on the lunar surface temperatures," Schonberg said.&nbsp;
"But this influence would probably be so minimal that it would be difficult to measure or even notice," he added.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Science | Trending | Data from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter suggests natural fluctuations in Moon's temperatures rather than human-induced changes during the Covid pandemic 

In 2024, scientists came up with a strange theory that the Moon got substantially cooler during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the lockdown was the reason for it. The hypothesis forced normal people to think about the time when Earth was gripped by the pandemic in early 2020 and nations imposed lockdowns. But now, scientists have said that the two aspects - the pandemic and Moon's temperature - were not related. Last year, scientists from the Physical Research Laboratory in India's Ahmedabad observed that lunar nighttime surface temperatures dipped substantially across six observation sites on the near side of the Moon between April and May 2020. Their findings were published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters. Also read: Earth faces 2032 collision risk; scientists track potential impact threat However, researchers from the Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) and the University of West Indies (UWI) found issues with the hypothesis when they analysed the data closely. In the latest study, published in the same journal, researchers noted that just like in 2020, there was also a dip in lunar temperatures in 2018. There was a steady decline in 2019. The collective timestamp doesn't align with the period of the Covid pandemic and its lockdowns. Also read: Earth's temporary ‘mini moon’ may have been a piece of actual moon As quoted by Science Alert, civil engineer William Schonberg from Missouri S&T said, "The idea that our activity, or lack of activity, on Earth would have a significant influence on the temperatures of the Moon – which is almost 240,000 miles from us – didn't seem likely, but we decided to keep an open mind and conduct additional research." The study noted that the temperature readings gathered by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter suggest cyclical fluctuations instead of one significant dip. In the latest article, the researchers said several factors are responsible for any change in Moon's temperature and also weighed in on a 2021 study which found that emissions reduction during the pandemic could only have affected the lower parts of Earth's atmosphere. Also read: Hubble Space Telescope faces a hiccup, but to stay in service for 'years to come' "We're not disputing that the temperatures did go down at different times during the time frame studied, but it seems to be a bit of a stretch to state with any certainty that human activity was the primary cause of this," Schonberg added. In the conclusion of the new study, the researchers said that be it Covid or any other period, human activity is unlikely to have an impact on the temperatures on the Moon. "During the Moon's nighttime, there is a small possibility that heat and radiation from Earth might have a very small effect on the lunar surface temperatures," Schonberg said. "But this influence would probably be so minimal that it would be difficult to measure or even notice," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

No, humans did not really change Moon's temperatures during Covid lockdown: Study

China is set to send a flying robot to the Moon's south pole to explore and search for potential water reserves, marking a significant step in lunar exploration.

China to launch flying robot to moon's south pole in search of water

China plans to send a flying robot to the Moon's south pole to explore potential water reserves, marking a new milestone in space exploration.

China's search for water on lunar south pole

China to send flying robot to moon’s south pole to search for water

A small piece of space rock that lingered near Earth last year, which was dubbed its temporary &ldquo;mini-moon&rdquo; may have been a chunk of our actual moon that chipped off thousands of years ago.
The small near-Earth asteroid 2024 PT5, which is only about 33 feet across, orbits around the Sun nearly in step with our planet. Its unusual path, which remains close to Earth without actually circling it, suggests that it may have formed in our neighbourhood.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-technology/isrp-rocket-launch-countdown-underway-satish-dhawan-space-centre-in-sriharikota-gslv-8660599" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Countdown underway for ISRO's 100th rocket launch</a>
<h2>Familiar origin</h2>
Researchers studying 2024 PT5 have observed new data, which hints that the rock originated from the Moon. They suspect that it was knocked off the lunar surface after a massive impact several thousands of years ago. It was then ejected and hurled into a path around the Sun, near Earth.
The asteroid can help offer rare information about the processes that designed the Moon.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/watch-isro-shares-video-of-historic-satellite-docking-in-spadex-mission-8632168" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Watch: ISRO shares video of historic satellite docking in SpaDeX mission</a>
&ldquo;We had a general idea that this asteroid may have come from the Moon, but the smoking gun was when we found out that it was rich in silicate minerals, not the kind seen on asteroids but found in lunar rock samples,&rdquo; said Teddy Kareta, an astronomer at Lowell Observatory in Arizona, who led the study.
On observing how the asteroid reflects sunlight, it was found that its materials closely resemble that of the Moon, unlike typical asteroids.
On further evaluation of its orbit, the experts at NASA&rsquo;s Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) measured solar radiation pressure, which is the slight push from sunlight.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/esas-gaia-telescope-discovers-over-100-black-holes-hidden-in-ancient-star-cluster-8631568" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">ESA's Gaia telescope discovers over 100 black holes hidden in ancient star cluster</a>
&ldquo;That 2024 PT5 doesn&rsquo;t move this way indicates it is much denser than space debris,&rdquo; said Oscar Fuentes-Mu&ntilde;oz, a NASA postdoctoral fellow at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. In comparison, human-made debris is usually relatively light and more affected by the pressure of sunlight
<h2>A rare asteroid</h2>
The new findings revealed by NASA scientists revealed that 2024 PT5 is natural and has a composition unique to typical asteroids, ruling out the possibility that it is human-made.
The only other near-Earth asteroid confirmed to have originated from the Moon is 469219 Kamoʻoalewa, which was first identified in 2016.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/spacexs-starship-rocket-launch-upper-stage-lost-during-seventh-orbital-test-confirms-elon-musks-company-8628497" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">SpaceX's Starship explodes mid-flight, upper stage lost, says company</a>
If scientists are able to link lunar craters to these objects, it may help reveal more about how impacts shape the Moon&rsquo;s surface.&nbsp;
Further exploration may also illuminate the processes that shaped the Moon and influenced Earth&rsquo;s early environment.
(With inputs from agencies)

Science & Tech | Researchers studying 2024 PT5 have observed new data, which hints that the rock originated from the Moon. They suspect that it was knocked off the lunar surface after a massive impact several thousands of years ago.

A small piece of space rock that lingered near Earth last year, which was dubbed its temporary “mini-moon” may have been a chunk of our actual moon that chipped off thousands of years ago. The small near-Earth asteroid 2024 PT5, which is only about 33 feet across, orbits around the Sun nearly in step with our planet. Its unusual path, which remains close to Earth without actually circling it, suggests that it may have formed in our neighbourhood. Also read | Countdown underway for ISRO's 100th rocket launch Familiar origin Researchers studying 2024 PT5 have observed new data, which hints that the rock originated from the Moon. They suspect that it was knocked off the lunar surface after a massive impact several thousands of years ago. It was then ejected and hurled into a path around the Sun, near Earth. The asteroid can help offer rare information about the processes that designed the Moon. Also read | Watch: ISRO shares video of historic satellite docking in SpaDeX mission “We had a general idea that this asteroid may have come from the Moon, but the smoking gun was when we found out that it was rich in silicate minerals, not the kind seen on asteroids but found in lunar rock samples,” said Teddy Kareta, an astronomer at Lowell Observatory in Arizona, who led the study. On observing how the asteroid reflects sunlight, it was found that its materials closely resemble that of the Moon, unlike typical asteroids. On further evaluation of its orbit, the experts at NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) measured solar radiation pressure, which is the slight push from sunlight. Also read | ESA's Gaia telescope discovers over 100 black holes hidden in ancient star cluster “That 2024 PT5 doesn’t move this way indicates it is much denser than space debris,” said Oscar Fuentes-Muñoz, a NASA postdoctoral fellow at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. In comparison, human-made debris is usually relatively light and more affected by the pressure of sunlight A rare asteroid The new findings revealed by NASA scientists revealed that 2024 PT5 is natural and has a composition unique to typical asteroids, ruling out the possibility that it is human-made. The only other near-Earth asteroid confirmed to have originated from the Moon is 469219 Kamoʻoalewa, which was first identified in 2016. Also read | SpaceX's Starship explodes mid-flight, upper stage lost, says company If scientists are able to link lunar craters to these objects, it may help reveal more about how impacts shape the Moon’s surface. Further exploration may also illuminate the processes that shaped the Moon and influenced Earth’s early environment. (With inputs from agencies)

Earth's temporary ‘mini moon’ may have been a piece of actual moon

The moon has been added to the list of endangered heritage sites due to concerns about potential damage and looting from future commercial space missions.
The World Monuments Fund (WMF), which typically focuses on threatened cultural sites on Earth, has included the moon in its latest watchlist, the first since 2022
<h2>Why was the moon added to endangered heritage sites list?</h2>
B&eacute;n&eacute;dicte de Montlaur, president and CEO of WMF, told The Art Newspaper that the moon was included because of "mounting risks amidst accelerating lunar activities" that lack proper preservation measures. She stressed the need to protect artefacts that represent humanity&rsquo;s first ventures beyond Earth, describing this as a &ldquo;defining moment in our shared history.&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hilarious-internet-cracks-up-as-pakistani-doctor-complains-about-foul-smell-in-china-8627824">&lsquo;Hilarious,&rsquo; Internet cracks up as Pakistani doctor complains about &lsquo;foul smell&rsquo; in China</a>
On Wednesday, SpaceX launched two lunar landers in preparation for future space missions. These activities, along with private lunar tourism expected after NASA&rsquo;s Artemis III mission in 2027, are raising concerns about the impact on lunar landmarks including sites such as the footprints left by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin during the Apollo 11 mission.
&ldquo;For the first time, the moon is included &hellip; to reflect the urgent need to recognise and preserve the artefacts that testify to humanity&rsquo;s first steps beyond Earth,&rdquo; said de Montlaur. She added that items like the camera used to capture the moon landing, the memorial disc left by Armstrong and Aldrin, and other objects embody this legacy.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/spacex-ceo-elon-musk-reacts-to-rival-jeff-bezos-blue-origins-launch-8627106">SpaceX CEO Elon Musk reacts to rival Jeff Bezos&rsquo; Blue Origin&rsquo;s launch</a>
&ldquo;Safeguarding lunar heritage will prevent damage from accelerating private and governmental activities in space, ensuring these artefacts endure for future generations,&rdquo; she added.
The full list of endangered sites includes:
Barotse Floodplain Cultural Landscape, Zambia
Belfast Assembly Rooms, Northern Ireland, UK
Bhuj Historic Water Systems, India
Buddhist Grottoes of Maijishan and Yungang, China
Chapel of the Sorbonne, France
Chief Ogiamien&rsquo;s House, Nigeria
Cinema Studio Namibe, Angola
Erdene Zuu Buddhist Monastery, Mongolia
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/elon-musks-spacex-launches-two-private-lunar-landers-aboard-falcon-9-8623630">Elon Musk&rsquo;s SpaceX launches two private lunar landers aboard Falcon 9</a>
Gaza Historic Urban Fabric, Palestine
Historic City of Antakya, Turkey
Historic Lighthouses of Maine, US
Jewish Heritage of Debdou, Morocco
Kyiv Teacher&rsquo;s House, Ukraine
Monasteries of the Drino Valley, Albania
Musi River Historic Buildings, India
Hokuriku Region, Japan
Noto Peninsula Heritage Sites, Japan
Qhapaq &Ntilde;an, Andean Road System in South America
Ruins of Old Belchite, Spain
Serifos Historic Mining Landscape, Greece
Swahili Coast Heritage Sites (Comoros, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania)
Terracotta Sculptures of Alcoba&ccedil;a Monastery, Portugal
The Great Trading Path, US
The Moon
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-makes-its-debut-launch-of-new-glenn-rocket-8626251">Watch: Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin makes debut launch of New Glenn rocket</a>
Waru Waru Agricultural Fields, Peru
Water Reservoirs of Tunis Medina, Tunisia
(With inputs from agencies)

Trending, world: The World Monuments Fund (WMF), which typically focuses on threatened cultural sites on Earth, has included the moon in its latest watchlist, the first since 2022.

The moon has been added to the list of endangered heritage sites due to concerns about potential damage and looting from future commercial space missions. The World Monuments Fund (WMF), which typically focuses on threatened cultural sites on Earth, has included the moon in its latest watchlist, the first since 2022 Why was the moon added to endangered heritage sites list? Bénédicte de Montlaur, president and CEO of WMF, told The Art Newspaper that the moon was included because of "mounting risks amidst accelerating lunar activities" that lack proper preservation measures. She stressed the need to protect artefacts that represent humanity’s first ventures beyond Earth, describing this as a “defining moment in our shared history.” Also read: ‘Hilarious,’ Internet cracks up as Pakistani doctor complains about ‘foul smell’ in China On Wednesday, SpaceX launched two lunar landers in preparation for future space missions. These activities, along with private lunar tourism expected after NASA’s Artemis III mission in 2027, are raising concerns about the impact on lunar landmarks including sites such as the footprints left by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin during the Apollo 11 mission. “For the first time, the moon is included … to reflect the urgent need to recognise and preserve the artefacts that testify to humanity’s first steps beyond Earth,” said de Montlaur. She added that items like the camera used to capture the moon landing, the memorial disc left by Armstrong and Aldrin, and other objects embody this legacy. Also read: SpaceX CEO Elon Musk reacts to rival Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin’s launch “Safeguarding lunar heritage will prevent damage from accelerating private and governmental activities in space, ensuring these artefacts endure for future generations,” she added. The full list of endangered sites includes: Barotse Floodplain Cultural Landscape, Zambia Belfast Assembly Rooms, Northern Ireland, UK Bhuj Historic Water Systems, India Buddhist Grottoes of Maijishan and Yungang, China Chapel of the Sorbonne, France Chief Ogiamien’s House, Nigeria Cinema Studio Namibe, Angola Erdene Zuu Buddhist Monastery, Mongolia Also read: Elon Musk’s SpaceX launches two private lunar landers aboard Falcon 9 Gaza Historic Urban Fabric, Palestine Historic City of Antakya, Turkey Historic Lighthouses of Maine, US Jewish Heritage of Debdou, Morocco Kyiv Teacher’s House, Ukraine Monasteries of the Drino Valley, Albania Musi River Historic Buildings, India Hokuriku Region, Japan Noto Peninsula Heritage Sites, Japan Qhapaq Ñan, Andean Road System in South America Ruins of Old Belchite, Spain Serifos Historic Mining Landscape, Greece Swahili Coast Heritage Sites (Comoros, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania) Terracotta Sculptures of Alcobaça Monastery, Portugal The Great Trading Path, US The Moon Also read: Watch: Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin makes debut launch of New Glenn rocket Waru Waru Agricultural Fields, Peru Water Reservoirs of Tunis Medina, Tunisia (With inputs from agencies)

In a first, Moon is now threatened heritage site: World Monuments Fund explains why

New research suggests that billions of years ago, Pluto (also known as a dwarf planet) may have captured its largest moon, Charon, through a unique "kiss-and-capture" collision. Unlike Earth, where the moon orbits the planet, Pluto and Charon orbit each other. Both are icy bodies located in the Kuiper Belt, beyond Neptune.
The study, led by NASA postdoctoral fellow Adeene Denton at the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, proposes that Pluto and Charon were once two icy worlds that collided in the distant Kuiper Belt. Rather than destroying each other, they briefly merged into a spinning "cosmic snowman" before separating. Despite this, they remained gravitationally bound, forming the Pluto-Charon system we see today.
This "kiss-and-capture" event offers a new understanding of how moons are captured and helps scientists learn more about how planetary bodies form and evolve in the cold, icy regions of the solar system.
<h2 dir="ltr">New theory: How Charon formed&nbsp;</h2>
Scientists presumed for decades that the dwarf planet&rsquo;s unusually large moon, Charon, formed from a massive collision, similar to Earth's moon. The common idea was that a large object collided with Pluto, causing molten material to form Charon. However, this theory works better for larger, hotter planets like Earth, where the colliding bodies behave like fluids.&nbsp;
Pluto and Charon are smaller and colder, mainly made of rock and ice. When Denton and her team considered the strength of these materials, they found something completely new. &ldquo;Pluto and Charon are different&mdash;they&rsquo;re smaller, colder, and made mainly of rock and ice. When we looked at the actual strength of these materials, we discovered something unexpected," Denton explained.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-isro-plans-to-build-space-station-around-moon-by-2040-report-777662" rel="dofollow">India's ISRO plans to build space station around moon by 2040: Report</a>
<figure class="image"><img alt="Charon, left, was formed when a large object collided with Pluto" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/01/08/AzEaFmdZp9wK70w4T9sd.jpg" style="width: 1280px;">
<figcaption>Charon, left, was formed when a large object collided with Pluto Photograph: ( NASA/JHUAPL)</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;The 'Kiss and Capture' model</h2>
The research team&rsquo;s model shows that instead of a massive collision or simple grazing, Pluto and Charon may have briefly collided, stuck together, and then separated, all while remaining gravitationally bound. This new "kiss and capture" mechanism is different from the more common "hit and run" or "graze and merge" collision scenarios.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/what-is-inside-the-moons-inner-core-heres-what-scientists-revealed-778745" rel="dofollow">What is inside the moon&rsquo;s inner core? Here&rsquo;s what scientists revealed</a>
<h2 dir="ltr">Findings in journal: Nature&nbsp;Geoscience</h2>
The findings published in the journal Nature Geoscience could revolutionise our understanding of how icy bodies in the Kuiper Belt and beyond form and evolve. &ldquo;The compelling thing about this study is that the model parameters that work to capture Charon end up putting it in the right orbit. You get two things right for the price of one,&rdquo; said Erik Asphaug, senior author and professor at the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory.
The "kiss and capture" theory could lead to a better understanding of how moons and planets in the solar system, particularly those in the cold interact and form.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)
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Science Tech: This "kiss-and-capture" event offers a new understanding of how moons are captured and helps scientists learn more about how planetary bodies form. 

New research suggests that billions of years ago, Pluto (also known as a dwarf planet) may have captured its largest moon, Charon, through a unique "kiss-and-capture" collision. Unlike Earth, where the moon orbits the planet, Pluto and Charon orbit each other. Both are icy bodies located in the Kuiper Belt, beyond Neptune. The study, led by NASA postdoctoral fellow Adeene Denton at the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, proposes that Pluto and Charon were once two icy worlds that collided in the distant Kuiper Belt. Rather than destroying each other, they briefly merged into a spinning "cosmic snowman" before separating. Despite this, they remained gravitationally bound, forming the Pluto-Charon system we see today. This "kiss-and-capture" event offers a new understanding of how moons are captured and helps scientists learn more about how planetary bodies form and evolve in the cold, icy regions of the solar system. New theory: How Charon formed Scientists presumed for decades that the dwarf planet’s unusually large moon, Charon, formed from a massive collision, similar to Earth's moon. The common idea was that a large object collided with Pluto, causing molten material to form Charon. However, this theory works better for larger, hotter planets like Earth, where the colliding bodies behave like fluids. Pluto and Charon are smaller and colder, mainly made of rock and ice. When Denton and her team considered the strength of these materials, they found something completely new. “Pluto and Charon are different—they’re smaller, colder, and made mainly of rock and ice. When we looked at the actual strength of these materials, we discovered something unexpected," Denton explained. Also Read: India's ISRO plans to build space station around moon by 2040: Report Charon, left, was formed when a large object collided with Pluto Photograph: ( NASA/JHUAPL) The 'Kiss and Capture' model The research team’s model shows that instead of a massive collision or simple grazing, Pluto and Charon may have briefly collided, stuck together, and then separated, all while remaining gravitationally bound. This new "kiss and capture" mechanism is different from the more common "hit and run" or "graze and merge" collision scenarios. Also Read: What is inside the moon’s inner core? Here’s what scientists revealed Findings in journal: Nature Geoscience The findings published in the journal Nature Geoscience could revolutionise our understanding of how icy bodies in the Kuiper Belt and beyond form and evolve. “The compelling thing about this study is that the model parameters that work to capture Charon end up putting it in the right orbit. You get two things right for the price of one,” said Erik Asphaug, senior author and professor at the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. The "kiss and capture" theory could lead to a better understanding of how moons and planets in the solar system, particularly those in the cold interact and form. (With inputs from agencies)

How Pluto got its moon: The ‘Kiss-and-Capture’ theory

A new global race to the Moon is going on among various nations. Watch how different countries are vying for control of the Moon.

Why There is a New Global Race to Moon?

Recent discoveries on Uranus' moons reveal potential conditions for life, suggesting these distant moons might hold environments where alien life could exist. Watch this video for more details!

Unraveling Cosmic Secrets: From Oceans on Uranus' Moons to Strange Radio Signals | Year Ender 2024

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