The space agency NASA has shared the first high-resolution images of the sunset seen from the Moon. Taken towards the west and visible with Earth and Venus, the images show the sparkle spreading along the Moon’s horizon as the Sun sets. NASA has released the first high-resolution images of a sunset on the Moon. These striking photos, captured by the spacecraft Blue Ghost, could provide more clues to the mysterious phenomenon known as “Moon horizon glow” to scientists. The agency presented the images at a press conference held at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. The 14-day mission carried out in collaboration with Firefly Aerospace has thus come to an end.

BLUE GHOST AND SENDING HUMANS TO THE MOON

The spacecraft landed near the Mare Crisium volcanic formation Mons Latreille on the northeast side of the Moon on March 2 as part of NASA’s Artemis program aiming to return humans to the Moon in 2027. Taken towards the west and visible with Earth and Venus, the images show the sparkle spreading along the Moon’s horizon as the Sun sets. NASA administrator Joel Kearns said, “These are the first high-resolution images of the Sun setting and darkness falling on the horizon.”

WHAT IS MOON HORIZON GLOW?

Moon horizon glow was first documented by astronaut Eugene Cernan, one of the last two people to set foot on the Moon during the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. Subsequent observations concluded that this phenomenon is caused by tiny dust particles in the Moon’s thin atmosphere shining at sunrise and sunset.