Empire State Review Team 
Blue Ghost Lander Captures Rare Lunar Eclipse from the Moon
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – As many on Earth witnessed the Moon becoming engulfed in shadow during a recent lunar eclipse, a remarkable event unfolded on the celestial body itself. The Blue Ghost lander, operated by Firefly Aerospace, recorded what can be described as an extraordinary perspective of a total solar eclipse from its vantage point on the Moon.
Unique Lunar Eclipse Experience
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth positions itself between the Moon and the Sun, obstructing sunlight from illuminating the Moon. This cosmic event offers distinct appearances from different locations:
- From Earth: Observers see the Moon gradually darkening as Earth casts its shadow, eventually leading to a ‘blood moon’ appearance due to atmospheric scattering of light. This results in a reddish hue on the Moon’s surface.
- From the Moon: The phenomenon reverses, with the Sun momentarily hidden behind Earth, allowing the Blue Ghost’s cameras to capture a unique “diamond ring” effect as sunlight pokes around the planet’s edge during the eclipse.
Stunning Imagery from Mare Crisium
Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander, stationed in Mare Crisium on the Moon, took snapshots around 3:30 am CDT. These images illustrate the Sun’s emergence from behind Earth’s shadow, producing breathtaking views that have not been widely witnessed before from the Moon’s surface.
“Captured at our landing site in the Moon’s Mare Crisium, the photo shows the sun about to emerge from totality behind Earth,” reported Firefly Aerospace, showcasing the scientific and aesthetic significance of their capture.
Historical Context
This is not the first time images of an eclipse have been taken from the Moon. NASA’s Surveyor 3 mission provided the inaugural view of such an event during the April 1967 lunar eclipse. In 2009, the Japanese Kaguya spacecraft improved upon those earlier images, showcasing the potential for detailed observations from lunar orbit.
However, the imagery collected by Blue Ghost is distinguished by its clarity and detail when compared to the grainy photographs captured in 1967, marking a significant advancement in extraterrestrial imaging.
The Blue Ghost Lander’s Mission
Blue Ghost is part of Firefly Aerospace’s initiative to support NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program by transporting scientific instruments and equipment to the Moon. Following a successful launch aboard a Falcon 9 rocket in January, Blue Ghost landed on the lunar surface on March 2, 2025, commencing its mission with ten various NASA instruments on board.
Significantly, it became the first privately funded spacecraft to achieve a successful upright landing on the lunar surface, distinguishing itself from previous missions that did not achieve such a feat.
Future Prospects
Due to the extreme cold experienced during lunar nights, the Blue Ghost team has encountered challenges related to their equipment, delaying the transmission of additional images. However, further updates and imagery from the lunar observations are anticipated shortly.
This latest capture by Blue Ghost not only enhances our understanding of lunar phenomena but also exemplifies the rapidly advancing capabilities of private aerospace companies in space exploration.
Source: Information gathered from contributions by NASA, Firefly Aerospace’s X account, and previous reports from FOX Television Stations.
