America may have got to the Moon first, but now, with much more than simply bragging rights at stake, Beijing and Moscow are joining forces to gain the first lunar foothold of the 21st century. When Apollo 11 landed on the Moon in 1969, it was one of, if not the most, iconic moments in…
The U.S., via its Space Policy Directive-6 (SPD-6), announced plans to set up a nuclear power plant on the Moon by 2027. The SPD-6 states that the Moon will be installed with a fission power system that will have a power range of 40 kilowatt-electric (kWe) and higher so that the celestial body can support a sustained…
On the evening of January 2, a Chinese lander named for an ancient moon goddess touched down on the lunar far side, where no human or robot has ever ventured before. China’s Chang’e-4 mission launched toward the moonon December 7 and entered orbit around our cosmic companion on December 12. Now, the spacecraft has alighted onto the lunar…
The moon will perform a spectacular astronomical ‘dance’ past three planets and a Leo constellation star as part of a rare lunar ‘occultation’ on Monday. Depending on your location, you may get the opportunity to see Earth’s natural satellite ‘cover’ Venus, Mars, Mercury or even one of the brightest stars in the sky, Regulus. WHAT…
