Moon

NASA has received a full-scale prototype of Blue Origin's Mark 2 crew cabin and will soon begin astronaut training exercises. The development supports the agency's goal of returning humans to the lunar surface in 2028.

24 Mwezi wa nne, 2026 Imeripotiwa na AI

A lunar mineral named Changesite-(Ce) discovered by a Chinese research team has been approved by the International Mineralogical Association, marking the 11th globally identified lunar mineral. This brings China's total to four, equal to the United States. The mineral was found in the Pakepake 005 lunar meteorite, China's first recovered sample.

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have successfully grown chickpeas in simulated moon dirt, marking a potential step toward lunar farming. The experiment combined lunar regolith simulant with worm compost and fungi to enable plant growth in otherwise inhospitable conditions. While promising, further tests are needed to ensure the crops are safe and nutritious for astronauts.

7 Mwezi wa tatu, 2026 Imeripotiwa na AI

Chinese scientists have used an AI model to determine the chemical make-up of the moon's far side, offering new insights into one of lunar science's enduring mysteries. The findings add to insights from China's historic Chang'e-6 mission to the lunar far side in 2024.

A new model suggests the moon formed from three large impacts on early Earth rather than a single giant collision. This approach better explains the compositional similarities between Earth and the moon. Researchers propose that moonlets from these impacts merged over time to create our satellite.

3 Mwezi wa kumi na mbili, 2025 Imeripotiwa na AI

A cold supermoon will appear on December 4, marking the final full moon and supermoon of 2025. This event, known as the cold moon due to typical winter chill, offers a striking year-end sky spectacle. Viewers can best enjoy it shortly after sunset.