The moon

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an illustration of the moon with a target zone filled with colors. each color represents concentrations of hydrogen. above are two spacecraft tracks as they move above the surface

There's lots of water on the moon for astronauts. But is it safe to drink?

By Elizabeth Howell published

A new moon water challenge from the United Kingdom and Canada asks participants to purify the liquid for safe drinking, in time for astronaut lunar landings later in the 2020s.

The moon
Large fully illuminated moon with large craters against a black background.

Full moon names for 2024 (and how they came to be)

By Joe Rao last updated

REFERENCE Space.com's guide to the common full moon names, dates and times for 2024.

REFERENCE
A photo from space with a moon lander in view and its crash site inset

Crippled Peregrine moon lander expected to crash to Earth today carrying human remains

By Mike Wall published

The private Peregrine moon lander's long journey is about to come to an end, back on its home planet.

The moon
close-up of protective tarp surrounding a spacecraft with a strut and black space also visible

Peregrine moon lander aims for 'safe' crash into Earth's atmosphere on Jan. 18

By Elizabeth Howell published

The ailing Peregrine moon lander is expected to crash into Earth's atmosphere on Jan. 18, a demise that its maker, Astrobotic, pledged to make as safe as possible.

The moon
Two side by side images of the moon, the image on the left shows bright red regions surrounded by green whereas the image on the right shows mainly blue regions with some green.

Moon rock revelations could solve lingering lunar geology puzzle

By Robert Lea published

High-temperature experiments conducted on Earth with lunar rock samples may have finally revealed how a unique type of rock was created and distributed on the moon.

The moon
close-up of protective tarp surrounding a spacecraft with a strut and black space also visible

Doomed Peregrine moon lander will burn up in Earth's atmosphere — but we don't yet know where

By Elizabeth Howell published

The leak that stopped the Peregrine moon lander's attempt is nearly finished, but the Astrobotic mission is still on track to burn up above Earth instead of reaching its lunar destination.

The moon
You can't see a black moon but this image shows a very slim crescent of a slightly illuminated moon visible in the days following a black moon.

Black Moon: What is it and why does it occur?

By Joe Rao last updated

Reference A Black Moon is a rare occurrence. Here we explore what causes them and when the next one will happen.

Reference
The first photo snapped by Astrobotic's Peregrine moon lander in space, shared via X on Jan. 8, 2024.

Ailing Peregrine moon lander on path to crash into Earth, Astrobotic says

By Tariq Malik published

The beleaguered private moon lander Peregrine is now on a collision course with Earth, Astrobotic said Saturday.

The moon
person standing looking at the blood moon above

What is a blood moon?

By Elizabeth Howell, Scott Dutfield last updated

Reference It may look spooky, but a blood moon is just a trick of the light. Here we explain this phenomenon and tell you how and where to see the next one.

Reference
A diagram of a private moon lander's trip to tlunar distance and the location of the moon at

Hobbled Peregrine moon lander limps to lunar distance as Astrobotic fights to keep it alive

By Mike Wall published

Astrobotic's Peregrine lander has made it out to lunar distance, a major milestone for the crippled craft — but a moon landing still doesn't seem to be in the cards.

The moon
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