On March 18, 2025, a remarkable event captured the attention of space enthusiasts and scientists alike: the first collection of high-definition imagery showcasing a lunar sunset. This breathtaking phenomenon was photographed by Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lunar lander, which was strategically positioned at the base of Mons Latreille, a prominent mountain located in the Moon's Mare Crisium (Sea of Crises) basin.
The images released depict a stunning horizon as the sun sets on the lunar landscape, with Earth and Venus prominently visible in the sky. Venus appears as a glowing dot to the upper right of the sun, while Earth stands out as the large, bright object on the upper left. This unique perspective not only provides a visual feast but also underscores the scientific value of capturing such rare celestial events. The photos were meticulously stitched together from various cameras on the lunar lander, creating a vivid sequence of the lunar sunset.
Sunsets on the Moon are a rare occurrence compared to Earth. Due to the Moon being tidally locked with Earth, one full day on the Moon—from sunrise to sunset—lasts a staggering 14.5 Earth days. This lengthy duration corresponds to half the time it takes the Moon to orbit our planet. Consequently, the Blue Ghost mission, which launched on January 15, 2025, was designed to operate on solar power for just over two weeks before needing to transition to battery power.
The Blue Ghost lunar lander successfully touched down on the Moon on March 2, 2025, and continued to operate on solar energy until March 16, when it switched to battery power. It ultimately ceased operations at 7:15 PM EDT on March 16, just five hours after relaying its historic images back to Earth. Throughout its mission, Blue Ghost operated for an impressive total of 346 hours during the lunar daytime.
Interestingly, Blue Ghost's mission was a full-circle experience, beginning with a captivating image of a lunar sunrise taken on March 3. Moreover, on March 14, the spacecraft captured an iconic view of a blood moon total lunar eclipse from its position on the Moon, witnessing a total solar eclipse with a dazzling diamond ring effect against a red lunar surface.
Blue Ghost Mission 1, aptly dubbed Ghost Riders in the Sky, marks a significant milestone in lunar exploration. According to Nicky Fox, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA headquarters, this mission represents the longest surface duration commercial mission on the Moon to date. It has collected invaluable scientific data that will benefit humanity for decades to come, paving the way for future explorations and discoveries in our celestial neighborhood.
