Inconstant Moon: a book about lunar science

Inconstant Moon: a book about lunar science Welcome to "Inconstant Moon"—a feature page about a new non-fiction book about the story behind lunar science and the quest for the origin of the Moon.

Written by Louis Varricchio, M.Sc., a former NASA science writer. "I believe that real scientific progress is as much a result of public information as of laboratory or field studies. Louis Varricchio's bold new book will demonstrate that there is much about the Moon's natural history that awaits discovery."
- Dr. John A. O'Keefe, former NASA space scientist and author of "Tektites and Their Origi

n." What do we really know about the Moon, Earth's nearest neighbor in space? "Inconstant Moon: Discovery and Controversy on the Way to the Moon," tells the story of NASA's robot lunar explorers, such as Projects Ranger and Surveyor, as well as the interpersonal relationships between some of the brilliant scientists who took America to the Moon. The exploration of the Moon is a story about tempers, rivalry, and scientific debates over the Moon's origin and surface features. Six years in the making, this book reveals some recently unearthed historical facts. "Inconstant Moon..." also contains rarely published photographs of some of the scientists discussed in the text as well as NASA images of the Moon and several lunar samples and meteorites. The book's appendices provide useful information for the interested reader or serious lunar student.

Artemis III will feature a fresh capsule and crew. They will remain in orbit around Earth for docking exercises with lun...
04/30/2026

Artemis III will feature a fresh capsule and crew. They will remain in orbit around Earth for docking exercises with lunar landers still in development by SpaceX and Blue Origin. That will set the stage for a moon landing by two new astronauts as early as 2028.

The spacecraft that flew four astronauts around the moon is back where its record-breaking journey began.

Shoot the Moon!
04/30/2026

Shoot the Moon!

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04/08/2026

NASA has released a photo of the Artemis II crew donning eclipse glasses ahead of a solar eclipse they experienced on Monday.

The Artemis II astronauts are the first humans to have witnessed a total solar eclipse in space. The eclipse lasted for about an hour, according to NASA.

Read more: https://abcnews.link/TMODYgM

04/08/2026

Apollo 8 vs Artemis II — Two Lunar Journeys 🚀🌕

From 1968 to 2026, missions beyond Earth orbit have transformed from a daring first step into a new era of deep-space exploration.

Both Apollo 8 and Artemis II share a common goal—sending humans around the Moon—but their flight paths highlight how much progress has been made.

Apollo 8 followed a classic free-return trajectory, a reliable path that ensured the crew could return safely even without major engine burns. After leaving Earth, it entered lunar orbit and circled the Moon multiple times before heading home.

Artemis II, while still using a similar safety concept, takes things further. Instead of entering orbit, the Orion spacecraft performs a flyby and travels much deeper into space—reaching distances far beyond what Apollo missions achieved.

🌌 Key difference: Apollo 8 stayed in lunar orbit. Artemis II pushes beyond the Moon into deeper space. Apollo 8 proved we could reach the Moon. Artemis II is proving we can go farther—and stay longer in the future. ✨

This isn’t just a comparison of missions—it’s a story of progress. From the first human journey around the Moon… to preparing for humanity’s long-term return.

📸 NASA

04/08/2026

Yesterday, four astronauts on Artemis II traveled farther than any humans in history.

Thanks to and incredible American ingenuity. 🇺🇸

04/08/2026

The Moon’s Most Perfect Impact Scar Orientale Basin!

This stunning view shows the legendary Orientale Basin - one of the Moon’s youngest and best-preserved giant impact structures, formed around 3.8 billion years ago during a violent collision in the early solar system.
Stretching nearly 930 km across, this massive basin reveals a rare multi-ring structure, created when a powerful asteroid impact sent waves through the lunar crust almost like ripples in water.
The colors in this image are not what the human eye would see. They represent gravity variations measured by NASA’s GRAIL mission where red indicates denser regions beneath the surface, and blue shows lighter areas, exposing the hidden structure of the Moon’s interior.
Unlike many other lunar basins, Orientale remains remarkably intact, giving scientists a near-perfect window into how massive impacts shaped not just the Moon, but the entire early solar system.

They're on their way! Goodspeed, Artemis 2!
04/01/2026

They're on their way! Goodspeed, Artemis 2!

03/07/2026
More data on moonquake activity: will it affect Artemis landings?
02/18/2026

More data on moonquake activity: will it affect Artemis landings?

Scientists mapped small mare ridges on the moon, revealing they’re geologically young and potential sources for moonquakes, impacting future lunar missions.

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