It Full of Moons!
A super blue Moon rises above Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday, Aug. 18, 2024. Although not actually appearing blue, as the third full Moon in a season with four full Moons, this is called a “blue” Moon. The Moon at or near its closest point to Earth is a “super” Moon and can appear up to 14% bigger and brighter than normal full Moons. About 25% of all full Moons are super, but only 3% of full Moons are blue, with the next super blue Moons occurring as a pair in January and March 2037.
A super blue Moon rises above Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday, Aug. 18, 2024. Although not actually appearing blue, as the third full Moon in a season with four full Moons, this is called a “blue” Moon. The Moon at or near its closest point to Earth is a “super” Moon and can appear up to 14% bigger and brighter than normal full Moons. About 25% of all full Moons are super, but only 3% of full Moons are blue, with the next super blue Moons occurring as a pair in January and March 2037.
A super blue Moon rises above Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday, Aug. 18, 2024. Although not actually appearing blue, as the third full Moon in a season with four full Moons, this is called a “blue” Moon. The Moon at or near its closest point to Earth is a “super” Moon and can appear up to 14% bigger and brighter than normal full Moons. About 25% of all full Moons are super, but only 3% of full Moons are blue, with the next super blue Moons occurring as a pair in January and March 2037.
A brilliant full moon rises over the Launch Complex 39 area at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A brilliant full moon rises over the Launch Complex 39 area at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The full Moon and the U.S. Capitol are seen early in the evening on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012 from Arlington National Cemetery. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Full Moon. Rises at sunset, high in the sky around midnight. Visible all night. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has been in orbit around the Moon since the summer of 2009. Its laser altimeter (LOLA) and camera (LROC) are recording the rugged, airless lunar terrain in exceptional detail, making it possible to visualize the Moon with unprecedented fidelity. This is especially evident in the long shadows cast near the terminator, or day-night line. The pummeled, craggy landscape thrown into high relief at the terminator would be impossible to recreate in the computer without global terrain maps like those from LRO. To download, learn more about this visualization, or to see what the Moon will look like at any hour in 2015, visit <a href="http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/goto?4236" rel="nofollow">svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/goto?4236</a> <b><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/audience/formedia/features/MP_Photo_Guidelines.html" rel="nofollow">NASA image use policy.</a></b> <b><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/home/index.html" rel="nofollow">NASA Goddard Space Flight Center</a></b> enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission. <b>Follow us on <a href="http://twitter.com/NASAGoddardPix" rel="nofollow">Twitter</a></b> <b>Like us on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Greenbelt-MD/NASA-Goddard/395013845897?ref=tsd" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a></b> <b>Find us on <a href="http://instagram.com/nasagoddard?vm=grid" rel="nofollow">Instagram</a></b>
Full Moon. Rises at sunset, high in the sky around midnight. Visible all night. This marks the first time that accurate shadows at this level of detail are possible in such a computer simulation. The shadows are based on the global elevation map being developed from measurements by the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). LOLA has already taken more than 10 times as many elevation measurements as all previous missions combined. The Moon always keeps the same face to us, but not exactly the same face. Because of the tilt and shape of its orbit, we see the Moon from slightly different angles over the course of a month. When a month is compressed into 12 seconds, as it is in this animation, our changing view of the Moon makes it look like it's wobbling. This wobble is called libration. The word comes from the Latin for "balance scale" (as does the name of the zodiac constellation Libra) and refers to the way such a scale tips up and down on alternating sides. The sub-Earth point gives the amount of libration in longitude and latitude. The sub-Earth point is also the apparent center of the Moon's disk and the location on the Moon where the Earth is directly overhead. The Moon is subject to other motions as well. It appears to roll back and forth around the sub-Earth point. The roll angle is given by the position angle of the axis, which is the angle of the Moon's north pole relative to celestial north. The Moon also approaches and recedes from us, appearing to grow and shrink. The two extremes, called perigee (near) and apogee (far), differ by more than 10%. The most noticed monthly variation in the Moon's appearance is the cycle of phases, caused by the changing angle of the Sun as the Moon orbits the Earth. The cycle begins with the waxing (growing) crescent Moon visible in the west just after sunset. By first quarter, the Moon is high in the sky at sunset and sets around midnight. The full Moon rises at sunset and is high in the sky at midnight. The third quarter Moon is often surprisingly conspicuous in the daylit western sky long after sunrise. Celestial north is up in these images, corresponding to the view from the northern hemisphere. The descriptions of the print resolution stills also assume a northern hemisphere orientation. To adjust for southern hemisphere views, rotate the images 180 degrees, and substitute "north" for "south" in the descriptions. Credit: <a href="http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/index.html" rel="nofollow">NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio</a> <b><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/home/index.html" rel="nofollow">NASA Goddard Space Flight Center</a></b> enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission. <b>Follow us on <a href="http://twitter.com/NASA_GoddardPix" rel="nofollow">Twitter</a></b> <b>Join us on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Greenbelt-MD/NASA-Goddard/395013845897?ref=tsd" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a></b> <b>Find us on <a href="http://web.stagram.com/n/nasagoddard/?vm=grid" rel="nofollow">Instagram</a></b>
<b>Share YOUR pink moon and/or partial lunar eclipse images in our Flickr Group here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/pinkmoon/">www.flickr.com/groups/pinkmoon/</a> </b> TimeThursday, April 25, 2013, 21:00 UT Phase 100.0% Diameter - 1962.6 arcseconds Distance - 365185 km (28.66 Earth diameters There is a special lunar name for every full moon in a year. The April 25 full moon is known as the “Full Pink Moon” because of the grass pink – or wild ground phlox – flower, which is one of the earliest widespread flowers to bloom in the spring. This month’s full moon is also known as the Sprouting Grass moon and the Egg moon. The first lunar eclipse of 2013 occurs at the Moon's ascending node in southern Virgo about 12° east of Spica (mv = +1.05). It is visible primarily from the Eastern Hemisphere. This event will not be visible in North America, it will only be visible from Eastern Europea, Africa, Asia, and Western Australia. April’s full moon, which is set to rise tonight, is known as a pink moon. And this year it coincides with the partial lunar eclipse. This NASA animation shows elevation measurements by the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio <b><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/audience/formedia/features/MP_Photo_Guidelines.html" rel="nofollow">NASA image use policy.</a></b> <b><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/home/index.html" rel="nofollow">NASA Goddard Space Flight Center</a></b> enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission. <b>Follow us on <a href="http://twitter.com/NASA_GoddardPix" rel="nofollow">Twitter</a></b> <b>Like us on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Greenbelt-MD/NASA-Goddard/395013845897?ref=tsd" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a></b> <b>Find us on <a href="http://instagram.com/nasagoddard?vm=grid" rel="nofollow">Instagram</a></b>
The full Moon rises in the sky to the right of the Orbital Sciences Corporation Antares rocket, with the Cygnus spacecraft onboard, Saturday, July 12, 2014, launch Pad-0A, NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The Antares is scheduled to launch Sunday, July 13, 2014 with the Cygnus spacecraft filled with over 3,000 pounds of supplies for the International Space Station, including science experiments, experiment hardware, spare parts, and crew provisions. The Orbital-2 mission is Orbital Sciences' second contracted cargo delivery flight to the space station for NASA. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
The full moon is seen with holiday lights, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020, in Arlington, Va. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
The rising full moon is seen with the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020, in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
A perigee full moon or supermoon is seen, Sunday, August 10, 2014, in Washington. A supermoon occurs when the moon’s orbit is closest (perigee) to Earth at the same time it is full. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
A perigee full moon or supermoon is seen behind clouds over the United States Capitol, Sunday, August 10, 2014, in Washington. A supermoon occurs when the moon’s orbit is closest (perigee) to Earth at the same time it is full. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
The full Moon, also known in January as the Wolf Moon, rises above the Lincoln Memorial and the Memorial Bridge, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, as seen from Arlington, Virginia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
iss072e068280 (Oct. 18, 2024) -- October's full moon, known as "The Hunter's Moon," is pictured from the International Space Station as it orbited 273 miles above the South Pacific Ocean.
The full Moon, also known in January as the Wolf Moon, rises above the Lincoln Memorial and the Memorial Bridge, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, as seen from Arlington, Virginia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
iss069e051764 (August 1, 2023) -- A full Moon on the night of Aug. 1— the first of two in the month— as the International Space Station orbited 265 miles above Earth.
This pair of views shows how little of the full image frame was taken up by the Moon in test images taken Sept. 8, 2005, by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment HiRISE camera on NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
ISS014-E-08916 (4 Dec. 2006) --- This view of a full moon was photographed by an Expedition 14 crewmember onboard the International Space Station.
A perigree full moon or supermoon is seen over the US Marine Corps War Memorial, Sunday, August 10, 2014, in Arlington, Virginia. A supermoon occurs when the moon’s orbit is closest (perigee) to Earth at the same time it is full. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
A perigree full moon or supermoon is seen over the US Marine Corps War Memorial, Sunday, August 10, 2014, in Arlington, Virginia. A supermoon occurs when the moon’s orbit is closest (perigee) to Earth at the same time it is full. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
ISS014-E-08933 (4 Dec. 2006) --- This view of a full moon was photographed by an Expedition 14 crewmember onboard the International Space Station. Earth's horizon and airglow are visible at left.
iss072e618284 (Feb. 10, 2025) --- The full Moon is pictured just above Earth's horizon from the International Space Station as it soared 260 miles over Durango, Mexico.
ISS014-E-08936 (4 Dec. 2006) --- This view of a full moon was photographed by an Expedition 14 crewmember onboard the International Space Station. Earth's horizon and airglow are visible at left.
ISS014-E-08940 (4 Dec. 2006) --- This distorted view of a full moon intersecting Earth's horizon was photographed by an Expedition 14 crewmember onboard the International Space Station.
ISS014-E-08948 (4 Dec. 2006) --- This distorted view of a full moon intersecting Earth's horizon was photographed by an Expedition 14 crewmember onboard the International Space Station.
The full moon rises over the Superdome and the city of New Orleans, Louisiana on Monday evening, January 13, 2025. The Wolf Moon, also known as the Ice or Cold Moon, was full at 5:27 p.m. EST. New Orleans is home to NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility where several pieces of hardware for the SLS (Space Launch system) are being built. Image credit: NASA/Michael DeMocker
A supermoon rises over the Mississippi River and the Crescent City Aug. 1. The early August full Moon is the second largest in Earth’s skies for 2023. Later in August, a full Moon will appear in the skies for a second time. New Orleans is home to NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility, where stages for NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and structures for Orion spacecraft are produced for the Artemis missions.
This giant mosaic reveals Saturn's icy moon Rhea in her full, crater-scarred glory. This view consists of 21 clear-filter images and is centered at 0.4 degrees south latitude, 171 degrees west longitude. The giant Tirawa impact basin is seen above and to the right of center. Tirawa, and another basin to its southwest, are both covered in impact craters, indicating they are quite ancient. The bright, approximately 40-kilometer-wide (25-mile) ray crater seen in many Cassini views of Rhea is located on the right side of this mosaic (at 12 degrees south latitude, 111 degrees west longitude). See PIA07764 for a close-up view of the eastern portion of the bright, ray crater. There are few signs of tectonic activity in this view. However, the wispy streaks on Rhea that were seen at lower resolution by NASA's Voyager and Cassini spacecraft, were beyond the western (left) limb from this perspective. In high-resolution Cassini flyby images of Dione, similar features were identified as fractures caused by extensive tectonism. Rhea is Saturn's second-largest moon, at 1,528 kilometers (949 miles) across. The images in this mosaic were taken with the Cassini spacecraft narrow-angle camera during a close flyby on Nov. 26, 2005. The images were acquired as Cassini approached the moon at distances ranging from 79,190 to 58,686 kilometers (49,206 to 36,466 miles) from Rhea and at a Sun-Rhea-spacecraft, or phase, angle of about 19 degrees. Image scale in the mosaic is 354 meters (1,161 feet) per pixel. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA07763
The nearly full moon rises over the city of New Orleans on Tuesday evening, May 25, 2021. Image credit: NASA/Michael DeMocker
ISS008-E-08453 (10 December 2003) --- This view of a full moon was photographed by one of the Expedition 8 crewmembers aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The nearly full moon rises over the city of New Orleans on Tuesday evening, May 25, 2021. Image credit: NASA/Michael DeMocker
The nearly full moon rises over the city of New Orleans on Tuesday evening, May 25, 2021. Image credit: NASA/Michael DeMocker
ISS008-E-08451 (10 December 2003) --- This view of a full moon was photographed by one of the Expedition 8 crewmembers aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The nearly full moon rises over the Superdome and the city of New Orleans on Tuesday evening, May 25, 2021. Image credit: NASA/Michael DeMocker
A perigee full moon or supermoon is seen over the The Peace Monument on the grounds of the United States Capitol, Sunday, August 10, 2014, in Washington. A supermoon occurs when the moon’s orbit is closest (perigee) to Earth at the same time it is full. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
A perigee full moon or supermoon is seen over the Old Post Office and Clock Tower, Sunday, August 10, 2014, in Washington. A supermoon occurs when the moon’s orbit is closest (perigee) to Earth at the same time it is full. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
A full Moon is in view from Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 14, 2022. The Artemis I Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft, atop the mobile launcher, are being prepared for a wet dress rehearsal to practice timelines and procedures for launch. The first in an increasingly complex series of missions, Artemis I will test SLS and Orion as an integrated system prior to crewed flights to the Moon. Through Artemis, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the lunar surface, paving the way for a long-term lunar presence and using the Moon as a steppingstone on the way to Mars.
A full Moon is in view from Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 14, 2022. The Artemis I Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft, atop the mobile launcher, are being prepared for a wet dress rehearsal to practice timelines and procedures for launch. The first in an increasingly complex series of missions, Artemis I will test SLS and Orion as an integrated system prior to crewed flights to the Moon. Through Artemis, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the lunar surface, paving the way for a long-term lunar presence and using the Moon as a steppingstone on the way to Mars.
A full Moon is in view from Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 14, 2022. The Artemis I Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft, atop the mobile launcher, are being prepared for a wet dress rehearsal to practice timelines and procedures for launch. The first in an increasingly complex series of missions, Artemis I will test SLS and Orion as an integrated system prior to crewed flights to the Moon. Through Artemis, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the lunar surface, paving the way for a long-term lunar presence and using the Moon as a steppingstone on the way to Mars.
A full Moon is in view from Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 14, 2022. The Artemis I Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft, atop the mobile launcher, are being prepared for a wet dress rehearsal to practice timelines and procedures for launch. The first in an increasingly complex series of missions, Artemis I will test SLS and Orion as an integrated system prior to crewed flights to the Moon. Through Artemis, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the lunar surface, paving the way for a long-term lunar presence and using the Moon as a steppingstone on the way to Mars.
A full Moon is in view from Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 14, 2022. The Artemis I Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft, atop the mobile launcher, are being prepared for a wet dress rehearsal to practice timelines and procedures for launch. The first in an increasingly complex series of missions, Artemis I will test SLS and Orion as an integrated system prior to crewed flights to the Moon. Through Artemis, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the lunar surface, paving the way for a long-term lunar presence and using the Moon as a steppingstone on the way to Mars.
A full Moon is in view from Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 14, 2022. The Artemis I Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft, atop the mobile launcher, are being prepared for a wet dress rehearsal to practice timelines and procedures for launch. The first in an increasingly complex series of missions, Artemis I will test SLS and Orion as an integrated system prior to crewed flights to the Moon. Through Artemis, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the lunar surface, paving the way for a long-term lunar presence and using the Moon as a steppingstone on the way to Mars.
A full Moon is in view from Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 14, 2022. The Artemis I Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft, atop the mobile launcher, are being prepared for a wet dress rehearsal to practice timelines and procedures for launch. The first in an increasingly complex series of missions, Artemis I will test SLS and Orion as an integrated system prior to crewed flights to the Moon. Through Artemis, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the lunar surface, paving the way for a long-term lunar presence and using the Moon as a steppingstone on the way to Mars.
A full Moon is in view from Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 14, 2022. The Artemis I Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft, atop the mobile launcher, are being prepared for a wet dress rehearsal to practice timelines and procedures for launch. The first in an increasingly complex series of missions, Artemis I will test SLS and Orion as an integrated system prior to crewed flights to the Moon. Through Artemis, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the lunar surface, paving the way for a long-term lunar presence and using the Moon as a steppingstone on the way to Mars.
A full Moon is in view from Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 14, 2022. The Artemis I Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft, atop the mobile launcher, are being prepared for a wet dress rehearsal to practice timelines and procedures for launch. The first in an increasingly complex series of missions, Artemis I will test SLS and Orion as an integrated system prior to crewed flights to the Moon. Through Artemis, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the lunar surface, paving the way for a long-term lunar presence and using the Moon as a steppingstone on the way to Mars.
A full Moon is in view from Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 14, 2022. The Artemis I Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft, atop the mobile launcher, are being prepared for a wet dress rehearsal to practice timelines and procedures for launch. The first in an increasingly complex series of missions, Artemis I will test SLS and Orion as an integrated system prior to crewed flights to the Moon. Through Artemis, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the lunar surface, paving the way for a long-term lunar presence and using the Moon as a steppingstone on the way to Mars.
A full Moon sets behind the Vehicle Assembly Building and Mobile Launcher at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. At the nation’s premier multi-user spaceport, NASA and its commercial and international partners are looking to return humans to the Moon and beyond utilizing a variety of rockets and capabilities.
iss072e364168 (Dec. 14, 2024) --- The Full Moon is pictured from the International Space Station as it orbited 261 miles above the Pacific Ocean. In the foreground, a portion of one of the orbital outpost's radiators, also known as the External Active Thermal Control System, is seen.
S103-E-5043 (21 December 1999)---This photo of a full Moon was taken with an electronic still camera at 15:16:27 GMT, Dec. 21, 1999.
AS17-152-23311 (19 Dec. 1972) --- This full disc of the moon was photographed by the Apollo 17 crewmen during their trans-Earth coast homeward following a successful lunar landing mission in December 1972. Mare seen on this photo include Serentatis, Tranquillitatis, Nectaris, Foecunditatis and Crisium.
S103-E-5037 (21 December 1999)--- Astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery recorded this rarely seen phenomenon of the full Moon partially obscured by the atmosphere of Earth. The image was recorded with an electronic still camera at 15:15:15 GMT, Dec. 21, 1999.
S103-E-5053 (21 December 1999) --- Full Moon, as photographed by the STS-103 crew aboard Discovery about three hours before rendezvous with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). HST appears as a tiny dot above and to right of the Moon. The picture was taken with an electronic still camera (ESC) at 15:23:05 GMT, Dec. 21, 1999.
S103-E-5050 (21 December 1999) --- Full Moon, as photographed by the STS-103 crew aboard Discovery about three hours before rendezvous with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). HST appears as a tiny dot above and to left of the Moon. The picture was taken with an electronic still camera (ESC) at 15:22:41 GMT Dec. 21, 1999.
A supermoon rises over Huntsville, Alabama, home to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, Aug. 19. Visible through Wednesday, Aug. 21, the full Moon is both a supermoon and a Blue Moon. Supermoons are the biggest and brightest full Moons of the year because the Moon is within 90% of its closest point to Earth. While not blue in color, the third full Moon in a season with four full Moons is called a “Blue Moon.” Huntsville is known as the “Rocket City” because of its proximity to NASA Marshall, which manages vital propulsion systems and hardware, launch vehicles, engineering technologies, and cutting-edge science for the agency.
A supermoon rises over Huntsville, Alabama, home to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, Aug. 19. Visible through Wednesday, Aug. 21, the full Moon is both a supermoon and a Blue Moon. Supermoons are the biggest and brightest full Moons of the year because the Moon is within 90% of its closest point to Earth. While not blue in color, the third full Moon in a season with four full Moons is called a “Blue Moon.” Huntsville is known as the “Rocket City” because of its proximity to NASA Marshall, which manages vital propulsion systems and hardware, launch vehicles, engineering technologies, and cutting-edge science for the agency.
A supermoon rises over Huntsville, Alabama, home to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, Aug. 19. Visible through Wednesday, Aug. 21, the full Moon is both a supermoon and a Blue Moon. Supermoons are the biggest and brightest full Moons of the year because the Moon is within 90% of its closest point to Earth. While not blue in color, the third full Moon in a season with four full Moons is called a “Blue Moon.” Huntsville is known as the “Rocket City” because of its proximity to NASA Marshall, which manages vital propulsion systems and hardware, launch vehicles, engineering technologies, and cutting-edge science for the agency.
A Super Blue Moon rises above the Mississippi River and the Crescent City Connection Bridge in New Orleans, Aug. 30. The full moon is “super” because it’s slightly closer to Earth and “blue” because it’s the second full moon in a month. About 25% of all full moons are supermoons, but only 3% of full moons are blue moons. The next super blue moons will occur in a pair in January and March 2037. New Orleans is home to NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility, where stages for NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and structures for Orion spacecraft are produced for the Artemis missions.
AS13-60-8703 (11-17 April 1970) --- This outstanding view of a near full moon was photographed from the Apollo 13 spacecraft during its trans-Earth journey homeward. Though the explosion of the oxygen tank in the Service Module (SM) forced the cancellation of the scheduled lunar landing, Apollo 13 made a pass around the moon prior to returning to Earth. Some of the conspicuous lunar features include the Sea of Crisis, the Sea of Fertility, the Sea of Tranquility, the Sea of Serenity, the Sea of Nectar, the Sea of Vapors, the Border Sea, Smyth's Sea, the crater Langrenus, and the crater Tsiolkovsky.
AS11-44-6667 (21 July 1969) --- This outstanding view of the whole full moon was photographed from the Apollo 11 spacecraft during its trans-Earth journey homeward. When this picture was taken, the spacecraft was already 10,000 nautical miles away. Onboard Apollo 11 were astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, commander; Michael Collins, command module pilot; and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., lunar module pilot. While astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin descended in the Lunar Module (LM) "Eagle" to explore the moon, astronaut Collins remained with the Command and Service Modules (CSM) "Columbia" in lunar orbit.
AS08-14-2506 (21-27 Dec. 1968) --- This photograph of a nearly full moon was taken from the Apollo 8 spacecraft at a point above 70 degrees east longitude. (Hold picture with moon's dark portion at left). Mare Crisium, the circular, dark-colored area near the center, is near the eastern edge of the moon as viewed from Earth. Mare Nectaris is the circular mare near the terminator. The large, irregular maira are Tranquillitatis and Fecunditatis. The terminator at left side of picture crosses Mare Tranquillitatis and highlands to the south. Lunar farside features occupy most of the right half of the picture. The large, dark-colored crater Tsiolkovsky is near the limb at the lower right. Conspicuous bright rays radiate from two large craters, one to the north of Tsiolkovsky, the other near the limb in the upper half of the picture. These rayed craters were not conspicuous in Lunar Orbiter photography due to the low sun elevations when the Lunar Orbiter photography was made. The crater Langrenus is near the center of the picture at the eastern edge of Mare Fecunditatis. The lunar surface probably has less pronounced color that indicated by this print.
A nearly full Rhea shines in the sunlight in this image from NASA Cassini spacecraft. Rhea 949 miles, or 1,527 kilometers across is Saturn second largest moon.
Goldstone 230-foot 70-m antenna tracks under a full moon. The Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex is located in the Mojave Desert in California, USA.
Three full-disk color views of Jupiter volcanic moon Io as seen by NASA Galileo spacecraft are shown in enhanced color to highlight details of the surface. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA00292
The full moon is seen as it rises near the Lincoln Memorial, Saturday, March 19, 2011, in Washington. The full moon tonight is called a "Super Perigee Moon" since it is at it's closest to Earth in 2011. The last full moon so big and close to Earth occurred in March of 1993.
The full moon is seen as it rises near the National Mall, Saturday, March 19, 2011, in Washington. The full moon tonight is called a "Super Moon" since it is at its closest to Earth. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)
The blood moon lunar eclipse over New Orleans, home to NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility, is shown from full moon to totality as it moves into the Earth’s umbral shadow in a composite of four images shot early Friday morning, March 14, 2025. Image credit: NASA/Michael DeMocker
This view from NASA Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer takes in an area of the sky in the constellation of Scorpius surrounding Jabbah Arabic name means the forehead of the scorpion which is larger than a grid of eight by eight full moons.
This image from NASA Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, is a view of an area of the sky over 12 times the size of the full Moon on the border of the constellations Sagittarius and Corona Australis.
This image from NASA Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer is a mosaic of 3 individual WISE frames spanning an area on the sky about 7 times the size of the full Moon in portions of the constellations Bootes and Canes Venatici.
This picture of the open star cluster NGC 7380 is a mosaic of images from NASA Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer mission spanning an area on the sky of about 5 times the size of the full Moon.
The Moon is seen as is rises, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017 in Washington. Today's full Moon is the first of three consecutive supermoons. The two will occur on Jan. 1 and Jan. 31, 2018. A supermoon occurs when the moon’s orbit is closest (perigee) to Earth at the same time it is full. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
The Moon is seen as is rises, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017 in Washington. Today's full Moon is the first of three consecutive supermoons. The two will occur on Jan. 1 and Jan. 31, 2018. A supermoon occurs when the moon’s orbit is closest (perigee) to Earth at the same time it is full. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
The Supermoon that was visible on September 17th, 2024 in Cleveland, OH. On this day, the full moon was a partial lunar eclipse; a supermoon; and a harvest moon.
The Supermoon that was visible on September 17th, 2024 in Cleveland, OH. On this day, the full moon was a partial lunar eclipse; a supermoon; and a harvest moon.
The Supermoon that was visible on September 17th, 2024 in Cleveland, OH. On this day, the full moon was a partial lunar eclipse; a supermoon; and a harvest moon.
The Supermoon that was visible on September 17th, 2024 in Cleveland, OH. On this day, the full moon was a partial lunar eclipse; a supermoon; and a harvest moon.
The Supermoon that was visible on September 17th, 2024 in Cleveland, OH. On this day, the full moon was a partial lunar eclipse; a supermoon; and a harvest moon.
The Moon is seen as it sets behind the National Capitol Columns at The US National Arboretum on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018 in Washington. Today’s full Moon is unique for three reasons: it is the third in a series of supermoons, occurring when the Moon is closer to Earth in its orbit. It is also the second full moon of the month, commonly known as a blue moon. The moon will also be passing through Earth’s shadow, giving skywatchers in the right locations a view of a total lunar eclipse. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
Rhea, like many moons in the outer solar system, appears dazzlingly bright in full sunlight. This is the signature of the water ice that forms most of the moon's surface. Rhea (949 miles or 1,527 kilometers across) is Saturn's second largest moon after Titan. Its ancient surface is one of the most heavily cratered of all of Saturn's moons. Subtle albedo variations across the disk of Rhea hint at past geologic activity. This view looks toward the anti-Saturn hemisphere of Rhea. North on Rhea is up and rotated 36 degrees to the right. The image was taken with the Cassini spacecraft narrow-angle camera on June 3, 2016 using a spectral filter which preferentially admits wavelengths of ultraviolet light centered at 338 nanometers. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA20495
View of the departing Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft and the nearly full Moon.
iss071e675220 (Sept. 18, 2024) -- September's full moon, known as the "Harvest Moon," is pictured from the International Space Station as it orbited 260 miles above Beijing.
Guardians of Traffic Statue in Cleveland, OH in front of the Supermoon that was visible on September 17th, 2024. On this day, the full moon was a partial lunar eclipse; a supermoon; and a harvest moon.
STS080-759-038 (19 Nov.-7 Dec. 1996) --- As photographed by the crewmembers aboard the space shuttle Columbia, a full moon is about to set beyond the limb of Earth. A full moon should be round but when it is near the limb, or edge of Earth, the atmosphere tends to distort the shape. The atmosphere, stratosphere, ionosphere is in reality acting as a lens, thus the distorted shape of the Moon. As the Moon reaches the Earth's horizon it will become "eggshaped".
This Full Moon that occurred on September 17, 2024 in Cleveland, OH was a Partial Lunar Eclipse; a Supermoon; the Corn Moon; and a harvest moon. Photo Credit: (NASA/Sara Lowthian-Hanna)
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A “supermoon” breaks through the clouds over Launch Complex 39 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The scientific term for the supermoon phenomenon is "perigee moon." Full moons vary in size because of the oval shape of the moon's orbit. The moon follows an elliptical path around Earth with one side about 50,000 kilometers closer than the other. Full moons that occur on the perigee side of the moon's orbit seem extra big and bright. For additional information, visit http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2014/10jul_supermoons/. Photo credit: NASA/Ben Smegelsky
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Clouds over Launch Complex 39 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida threaten to obscure the view of the “supermoon” forecast to light up the sky. The scientific term for the supermoon phenomenon is "perigee moon." Full moons vary in size because of the oval shape of the moon's orbit. The moon follows an elliptical path around Earth with one side about 50,000 kilometers closer than the other. Full moons that occur on the perigee side of the moon's orbit seem extra big and bright. For additional information, visit http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2014/10jul_supermoons/. Photo credit: NASA/Ben Smegelsky
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Night falls over the turn basin in Launch Complex 39 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, bringing with it expectations of the appearance of a “supermoon.” The scientific term for the supermoon phenomenon is "perigee moon." Full moons vary in size because of the oval shape of the moon's orbit. The moon follows an elliptical path around Earth with one side about 50,000 kilometers closer than the other. Full moons that occur on the perigee side of the moon's orbit seem extra big and bright. For additional information, visit http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2014/10jul_supermoons/. Photo credit: NASA/Ben Smegelsky
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A “supermoon” begins to rise through the clouds near the 525-foot-tall Vehicle Assembly Building in Launch Complex 39 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The scientific term for the supermoon phenomenon is "perigee moon." Full moons vary in size because of the oval shape of the moon's orbit. The moon follows an elliptical path around Earth with one side about 50,000 kilometers closer than the other. Full moons that occur on the perigee side of the moon's orbit seem extra big and bright. For additional information, visit http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2014/10jul_supermoons/. Photo credit: NASA/Ben Smegelsky
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The sky changes color as the sun sets over Launch Complex 39 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, bringing with it expectations of the appearance of a “supermoon.” The scientific term for the supermoon phenomenon is "perigee moon." Full moons vary in size because of the oval shape of the moon's orbit. The moon follows an elliptical path around Earth with one side about 50,000 kilometers closer than the other. Full moons that occur on the perigee side of the moon's orbit seem extra big and bright. For additional information, visit http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2014/10jul_supermoons/. Photo credit: NASA/Ben Smegelsky
An aircraft taking off from Ronald Reagan National Airport is seen passing in front of the Moon as it rises, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017 in Washington. Today's full Moon is the first of three consecutive supermoons. The two will occur on Jan. 1 and Jan. 31, 2018. A supermoon occurs when the moon’s orbit is closest (perigee) to Earth at the same time it is full. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A view of the super moon in the eastern sky over Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The full moon reached perigee, the closest point to Earth in its elliptical pattern, at 11:34 p.m. It appeared 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than other full moons of 2012. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann
This almost full Moon shining in the eastern night sky was photographed on June 12, 2022, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The upcoming supermoon on Monday, November 14, will be especially “super”, it’s the closest full moon to Earth since 1948 Read more:: <a href="http://go.nasa.gov/2fE5psX" rel="nofollow">go.nasa.gov/2fE5psX</a> The moon is a familiar sight, but the days leading up to Monday, Nov. 14, promise a spectacular supermoon show. When a full moon makes its closest pass to Earth in its orbit it appears up to 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter, making it a supermoon. This month’s is especially ‘super’ for two reasons: it is the only supermoon this year to be completely full, and it is the closest moon to Earth since 1948. The moon won’t be this super again until 2034! Share your supermoon photos using #NASAsupermoon on social media.
Voyager 2 obtained this full-disk view of Uranus moon Titania in the early morning hours of Jan. 24, 1986, from a distance of about 500,000 kilometers 300,000 miles. Many circular depressions, probably impact craters, are visible in this clear-filter.
A paddlewheeler makes its way up the Mississippi River as the moon rises over New Orleans on Sunday evening, August 22, 2021. The August Sturgeon Moon, which was also a rare Blue Moon, was full at 7:02 A.M. local time Sunday but the nearly full moon still put on a show when it rose over New Orleans later that evening. New Orleans is home to the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility where the core stage of the Space Launch System that will return people to the moon is being built. Image credit: NASA/Michael DeMocker
Guardians of Traffic Statue in Cleveland, OH in front of the Supermoon that was visible on September 17th, 2024. On this day, the full moon was a partial lunar eclipse; a supermoon; and a harvest moon. Photo Credit: (NASA/Sara Lowthian-Hanna)
iss072e188790 (Nov. 15, 2024) -- November's full moon, also known as the "Beaver Moon" is pictured against the black of space from the International Space Station as it orbited 270 miles above Earth.
iss064e027825 (Jan. 29, 2021) --- The waning gibbous moon is pictured the day after its full Moon phase as the International Space Station orbited 264 miles above China near the Mongolian border.