Its primary objective following the March 2 touchdown inside Mare Crisium crater was to deliver 10 NASA instruments designed to gather lunar subsurface data. But the eastern edge of the moon’s near east side also provided a perfect spot for viewing a solar eclipse from the moon’s point of view.

Sometimes sleep takes priority over cool celestial events. Luckily, you can catch a partial solar eclipse this month and a blood moon again in 2026.

The countdown for the year's first (and only) total lunar eclipse begins. The celestial event, which will see the moon change to rusty red hues, will occur in the U.S. on the night of March 13-14.