The Artemis 2 astronauts saw several impact flashes on the moon during their epic flyby, observations that have excited scientists and mission planners alike.

Apollo astronauts described lights "sailing off into space" and skies like the "Fourth of July" in newly declassified Pentagon UFO transcripts.

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. An award-winning reporter writing about stargazing and the night sky. This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more. This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.

After Artemis 2, NASA's moon return hinges on two unproven commercial landers, each of which faces major technical and timeline challenges.

Artemis II marked a huge step for NASA and humanity, launched on April 1, 2026, from Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard the powerful SLS rocket. The mission sent four brave astronauts on a 9-day, 1-hour, 32-minute trip around the farthest point from Earth, circling the Moon's far side without landing.

Artemis II astronauts are back on Earth, sharing unique videos and adapting to gravity, while NASA plans for Artemis III.

The world practically stood still on July 20, 1969, when Apollo 11 astronauts landed on the moon. Buzz Aldrin commemorated his historic steps with this drink.

With Artemis II astronauts closing out on-board tests, flight controllers are prepping for reentry and splashdown Friday.

W hen Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins returned from their mission to the Moon, they brought with them tales of what it was like to be the first humans standing on the surface of another world, tales of what it was like to be kind of near that (sorry, Michael), and a very unusual meal for some cockroaches.

An ancient impact may have scattered material from deep inside the moon toward NASA's planned Artemis landing sites near the lunar south pole.