In the early hours of March 14, 2025, sky gazers across the Americas were treated to a stunning total lunar eclipse, an awe-inspiring celestial phenomenon where the Earth cast its shadow over the Moon, turning it a fiery red. But this extraordinary night didn’t just sparkle for those on the ground; it also marked a momentous occasion for technology when the Blue Ghost lunar lander, from the commercial company Firefly Aerospace, witnessed the opposite event—a solar eclipse—while observing from its position on the moon.
As the eclipse unfolded, it was particularly spectacular for astrophotographers and enthusiasts who took to their cameras to capture the elusive moments. Among them, Bray Falls, an astrophotographer in Chile, shared a breathtaking image that showcased the total lunar eclipse. He tweeted, “The total lunar eclipse last night from Chile!” capturing the vibrant hues and transformations that occurred as the Moon transitioned into totality.
John Kraus, another photographer, beautifully documented the entire sequence of the lunar eclipse from Florida, presenting the different phases of this natural wonder in a stunning wide field view. “Lunar eclipse over Florida,” his tweet simply stated, encapsulating a night that many will remember.
Max Inwood, from Canada, also chronicled the event during twilight, capturing it with a 135mm lens. His images showed the Moon’s journey through the phases under the dimming evening light, which provided a romantic backdrop for those stargazers watching.
Astrophotographer Dan Zafra took this extraordinary event a step further by capturing the lunar eclipse through the auroras in Alaska, turning the scene into an enchanting spectacle that many referred to as a “once-in-a-lifetime” image.
In a different part of the Americas, Rami Ammoun captured a unique moment during the eclipse when sunlight passed through Earth's ozone layer, creating a beautiful bluish tint on the Moon's surface. His tweet read, “The Total Lunar Eclipse minutes ago,” showcasing the marvelous interplay of light and shadow.
For those looking for hyper-detailed images, Andrew McCarthy utilized four cameras to capture a staggering 300GB of data, allowing him to create an HDR view that revealed intricate details of the lunar surface that were highlighted by the color projected onto it during the eclipse.
Petr Horalek, a renowned astrophotographer, composed an image showing three distinct phases of the eclipse: the beginning of totality, during totality, and the end of totality. For those who missed this eclipse, he offered a note of hope: a total lunar eclipse is set to occur again in September 2025.
Alongside the lunar enthusiasts, the Blue Ghost lunar lander monitored the solar eclipse as Earth passed between the Moon and the Sun during its operational mission on the lunar surface. This groundbreaking moment represents the first time a commercial company has been operational during an eclipse on the Moon. “We’re incredibly proud of the imagery we’ve downlinked so far,” said Will Coogan, the chief engineer of Blue Ghost, in a statement to CNN.
The Blue Ghost, which touched down on the Moon on March 2, 2025, operated for nearly two weeks, conducting various scientific experiments. Documents indicate that three of its science payloads were successfully used to measure changes in lunar dust and radiation during the eclipse.
However, the night was challenging for the Blue Ghost, as it experienced nearly five hours of darkness—a situation similar to operating during a lunar night where temperatures can plummet to minus 100 degrees Celsius (minus 148 degrees Fahrenheit). “Operating for nearly five hours of darkness during a total eclipse is as challenging as operating during the lunar night,” Coogan explained.
The company announced on Sunday, March 16, 2025, that the mission of the Blue Ghost was completed as it powered down after successfully achieving the longest commercial operation on the Moon to date. Firefly Aerospace shared images from the lander's perspective and concluded its mission with pride, as its team noted, “this team continues to make near impossible achievements look easy, but there is no such thing as an easy moon landing, especially on your first attempt.”
Looking toward future exploration, Firefly Aerospace hinted at more lunar missions, with Blue Ghost Mission 2 slated for launch in 2026. “But the Ghost still lives on in our hearts and minds for the journey it’s taken us on!” Firefly CEO Jason Kim posted on X following the completion of the mission.
As the world looks forward to new explorations and celestial wonders, this lunar eclipse serves as a powerful reminder of the beauty and complexity of our universe, uniting people from various places under the same night sky.
