The space agency NASA shared the first high-resolution images of the sunset seen from the Moon. Images taken towards the west, where Earth and Venus can also be seen, show the shimmer spreading along the Moon’s horizon as the Sun sets. NASA released the first high-resolution images of the sunset on the Moon. These two stunning photos taken by the spacecraft Blue Ghost could provide scientists with more clues about the mysterious phenomenon known as “Moon horizon glow.” The agency presented the images at a press conference held at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. The 14-day mission conducted in collaboration with the company Firefly Aerospace has therefore come to an end.

BLUE GHOST AND SENDING HUMANS TO THE MOON

The spacecraft that landed near the volcanic formation Mons Latreille close to the Mare Crisium in the northeast side of the Moon on March 2 is part of NASA’s Artemis program aimed to return humans to the Moon in 2027. Images taken towards the west, where Earth and Venus can also be seen, show the shimmer 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’s setting and the subsequent darkening of the horizon.”

WHAT IS MOON HORIZON GLOW?

The glow on the Moon’s horizon 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 during sunrise and sunset.