A graphic shows a full Moon against a night sky with snowflakes, two snowmen in the bottom right corner, and the title “The Cold Moon” centered on the image.

Slide titled “Why Is It Called the Cold Moon,” with blue snowflakes in the background and text explaining that December’s full Moon is called the Cold Moon because it marks the start of winter and some of the coldest temperatures of the year.

Slide titled “When Can You View the Cold Moon,” with a blue starry night sky background and text explaining that the Cold Moon will be visible on December 4th as a brighter, larger supermoon, best seen around midnight, and that a supermoon happens when the Moon is closest to Earth.

🌕 The Cold Moon makes its appearance tonight! ❄️ As the full Moon that welcomes winter’s arrival, it will glow brightly in December’s chill. Be sure to catch this supermoon lighting up the night sky! ✨

#LunarVISE #Space #FullMoon #ColdMoon #DecemberFullMoon #WinterMoon

A graphic titled “Member Spotlight: Co-Investigator” features a photo of Dr. Margaret Landis with her name displayed below.

Two text bubbles “What is your role within Lunar-VISE?” and Dr. Margaret Landis describing her work finding safe rover sites and using remote sensing to study the Gamma Dome.

Two text bubbles “What is your educational background?” and Dr. Margaret Landis describing her degrees in planetary sciences and physics from Arizona universities and her recent move to Arizona State University.

Two text bubbles “What are some previous projects you have worked on and other projects you are currently working on?” and Dr. Margaret Landis discussing her work on HiRISE, Diviner, and the Dawn at Ceres mission.

Meet Dr. Margaret Landis! 👋 A Lunar-VISE Co-Investigator, she’s helping find the safest spots to land and drive our rover. 🌕 With her expertise in thermal and nuclear remote sensing, she’s uncovering what the Gamma Dome is made of. 🚀

#LunarVISE #Space #Moon #TeamSpotlight

A fall mountain background with trees, a cottage and forest, and the title “Harvest Afterglow The Moon & Crop Science” in bold white text.

A farmer working in a field under a bright full Moon, accompanied by the slide title “Farmers by Moonlight” with a brief blurb explaining how farmers historically used moonlight to guide harvesting.

A starry background with a graphic of photoperiodism accompanied by the slide title "Moonlight & Plants" with a brief blurb explaining the Moons role in shaping plant growth.

An aerial view of a field accompanied by the slide title “Satellites See the Glow” with a brief blurb explaining how satellites capture crop health.

The Moon has guided farming for centuries, though scientists still debate its effects on crop growth 🌱🌾. From traditional practices to modern research, the Moon’s cycles continue to influence agriculture and inspire new discoveries.

#HarvestAfterglow #LunarVISE #SpaceToSoil

An image announcing the launch of the Lunar-VISE website.

We're live now! 💻 Visit our website to explore the science and team behind the Lunar-VISE payload, our journey to investigate the Moon’s silicic volcanism and its geologic past. 🌕

Link: sciences.ucf.edu/lunarvise/

#LunarVISE #Moon #LunarScience #LunarExploration #MoonResearch

“The Beaver Moon” graphic with a full Moon and a beaver silhouette in the lower left corner.

Graphic explaining that November’s Beaver Moon is named for the time when beavers build their dams and lodges before winter.

Graphic showing that the Beaver Moon will appear on November 5th, best viewed around midnight under a bright night sky.

🌕 The November Beaver Moon rises tonight! As the final leaves fall and frost begins to form (well, maybe not here in Florida), tonight’s full Moon marks the shift toward winter. Step outside, look up, and take in its bright autumn glow! 🍂

#LunarVISE #Space #SpaceLab #UCF #Moon

Graphic titled “Member Spotlight: Co-Investigator and LV-VIC Instrument Scientist” with a photo of Dr. Jessica Sunshine. Below is the text "Dr. Jessica Sunshine."

A yellow speech bubble asks, “What is your role within Lunar-VISE?” A second yellow speech bubble answers: “I am a Co-Investigator as well as an LV-VIC Instrument Scientist. As a CO-I, I am part of the LV science team and as the VIC Instrument Scientist I work to make sure we get the data we need from the multispectral camera. That started with the proposal and design of the instrument and has included the testing and calibration in the laboratory and we are now working on the plan for taking data when we get to the Moon.”

A yellow speech bubble asks, “What is your educational background?” The reply in another yellow bubble reads: “I have a PhD and ScM in Geology Sciences, and a ScB in Applied Mathematics all from Brown University.”

A yellow speech bubble asks, “What are some previous projects you have worked on and other projects you are currently working on?” A second yellow speech bubble responds: “I am currently also part of the Lucy mission to explore the Trojan asteroids. My past roles include Deputy PI for the Deep Impact eXtended Investigation to comet Hartley 2, Co-Investigator for the Deep Impact and Stardust NExTmissions, including a planetary scale impact experiment, to comet Tempel 1, and Participating Scientist for the Dawn Mission to asteroid Vesta. In addition, I was Co-I for the Moon Mineralogy Mapper instrument and the DART asteroid impact mission. I was also the Principal Investigator for the Comet Hopper mission, a finalist in the 2012 Discovery mission selection.”

Introducing Dr. Jessica Sunshine! 👋 As Lunar-VISE’s Co-Investigator and LV-VIC Instrument Scientist, she’s making sure our multispectral camera gets all the data we need. 🌕 🚀

#LunarVISE #Space #SpaceLab #UCF #Moon #Gruithuisen #GruithuisenDomes

Full Moon graphic with fall leaves bordering the top and bottom of the page. The title "The Harvest Moon" is centered on the page.

Titled "Why is it called the Harvest Moon?" with the answer "The October full Moon is called the Harvest Moon because it is a peak time for fall harvesting before winter. The full Moon closest to the fall equinox gets the Harvest Moon name. This year the October full Moon is closest!"

Titled "When can you view the Harvest Moon?" with the answer "The Harvest Moon will illuminate the night sky on October 6th. This full Moon is a supermoon and will be visible throughout the evening, with optimal viewing conditions anticipated around midnight. A supermoon is a full Moon that looks bigger and brighter in the night sky. This happens when the Moon is at its closest point to Earth in its orbit."

🌕 The Harvest Moon arrives on October 6th! 🍂 As the full Moon closest to the fall equinox, it shines bright to mark the peak of autumn’s harvest season. Don’t miss this supermoon lighting up the night sky! ✨

#LunarVISE #Space #SpaceLab #UCF #Moon #FullMoon #HarvestMoon

Graphic titled “Postdoctoral Scholar” with a professional headshot of Dr. Prateek Tripathi. Below the image is the text “Dr. Prateek Tripathi.”

A neon green speech bubble asks, “What is your role within Lunar-VISE?” A second neon green speech bubble answers: “I am one of the Lunar-VISE postdoctoral scholars. My role on the team includes working with FTIR and ASD spectrometers to build spectral libraries of materials and process lunar remote sensing datasets relevant to the Lunar-VISE mission.”

A neon green speech bubble asks, “What is your educational background?” The reply in another neon green bubble reads: “I have a bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communication from ITM Universe, Gwalior, and a master’s in Remote Sensing and GIS from the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing a unit of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). I completed my PhD in Geomatics Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, India.”

A neon green speech bubble asks, “What are some previous projects you have worked on and other projects you are currently working on?” A second neon green speech bubble responds: “During my Ph.D. at IIT Roorkee, I integrated near-infrared, thermal, and Raman spectroscopy with hyperspectral imaging for mineral characterization in support of lunar exploration. I analyzed DESIS and PRISMA datasets for planetary surface analogs and gained lunar research experience as a visiting researcher at DLR Berlin and exploration intern at the Lunar and Planetary Institute, contributing to Artemis traverse planning. Fieldwork at India’s Dhala and Ramgarh impact craters, including sampling and UAV surveys, provided valuable analog insights for Lunar-VISE.”

Meet Dr. Prateek Tripathi! 👋 He uses FTIR and ASD spectrometers to study lunar materials and build spectral libraries. By pairing these with remote sensing data, he’s helping shape the science behind Lunar-VISE. 🌙

#LunarVISE #Space #SpaceLab #UCF #Moon #Gruithuisen

Full Moon graphic with corn stalks coming up from the bottom of the page and titled "The Corn Moon."

Titled ‘Why is it called the Corn Moon?’ with an image of many corn cobs in the background. The text explains that September’s full Moon got the nickname Corn Moon because it aligns with the busy corn harvest.

Titled ‘When can you view the Corn Moon?’ with a background of the night sky. The text explains that the Corn Moon will shine on September 7th, visible throughout the evening, with the best viewing time around midnight.

🌕 The Corn Moon will rise this Saturday, September 7! 🌽 Its name comes from the traditional harvest season, when corn was gathered at summer’s end. Don’t miss the chance to step outside and catch its glow! ✨

#LunarVISE #Space #SpaceLab #UCF #Moon #FullMoon #CornMoon

A full Moon graphic with a see-through view of the layers in the top right quadrant of the Moon. Titled "What is the Moon made of?"

Titled "Crust" with the text "The crust is the Moon’s outermost layer and is a rocky shell that is primarily made of two rock types – anorthosites and basalts. This is the part of the Moon we can see from Earth. The Moon’s relatively bright regions are called the lunar highlands and are made of anorthosite, which is primarily composed of plagioclase, a relatively iron free silicate mineral. The Moon’s dark regions are called the lunar maria and these volcanic plains are composed of basalts, which are a mixture of silicate minerals including plagioclase, pyroxene, and olivine. The crust helps us learn about the history of the Moon and other rocky planets!"

Titled "Mantle" with the text "The mantle is the layer just beneath the crust and is the thickest layer of the Moon. The lunar mantle is thought to be composed of iron-bearing silicate minerals olivine and pyroxene, although its exact composition is a mystery! Although mostly solid, the mantle can slowly flow like a thick liquid over geologic timescales (millions and billions of years). This slow movement is known as convection and can lead to moonquakes and volcanism at the lunar surface. Since we do not observe any current volcanic activity on the Moon, the lunar mantle has probably cooled and solidified except for the zone closest to the lunar core."

Titled "Core" with the text "The Moon’s core consists of two parts: a solid, mostly iron inner core within a molten outer core. Though primarily made of iron, the core contains some nickel and sulfur as well. The Moon’s core extends about 20 percent of the way from the Moon’s center to its surface―a smaller proportion than in other rocky planets, whose cores can reach up to 50% of their diameters. The relatively small size of the lunar core may be because the Moon’s violent formation left little iron to collect in its center."

✨ We see the Moon every night, but do you know what the Moon is made of? It’s not just rock and dust, and each layer helps us understand the Moon’s history. Swipe to learn more about what the Moon is really made of! 🌔

#LunarVISE #Space #SpaceLab #UCF #Moon #MoonLayers #MoonCrust #MoonMantle

Image for the NASA Exploration Science Forum. The text reads: "See us at NASA Exploration Science Forum! University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, 22 – 24 July 2025." In the background is a scenic view of desert mountains under a partly cloudy sky. The bottom right corner features the Lunar-VISE logo.

Graphic for an oral session titled "Update on the Lunar-VISE Investigation of Mons Gruithuisen Gamma." A headshot of Dr. Kerri Donaldson Hanna is centered below the title. The session is scheduled for Tuesday, July 22 at 2:00pm MDT in SUB Ballroom B. The background is black with silicate crystalline structures in the corners and a prism rainbow-colored rover track design in the lower right.

Graphic for an oral session titled "UV-VIS Analysis of Silicic Lunar Red Spots." A headshot of Graduate Student Elena Dolgas is centered below the title. The session is scheduled for Tuesday, July 22 at 5:25pm MDT in SUB Ballroom B. The background is black with silicate crystalline structures in the corners.

Graphic for a poster session titled "Spectral and Geochemical Characterization of Field Samples Collected at the Wildcat Hills as Analogs for Lunar Silicic Volcanism." A headshot of Graduate Student Taylor Bourikas is centered below the title. The session is scheduled for Wednesday, July 23 5:00pm MDT at SUB Ballroom C. The background is black with silicate crystalline structures in the corners and a prism rainbow-colored rover track design. in the lower right.

Headed to NESF?✨Come say hi! Several members of our team will be presenting and showcasing some exciting work!

#NESF2025 #LunarVISE

Graphic titled “Member Spotlight: Co-Investigator” with a photo of Dr. Brett Denevi in a black shirt and jacket. Below the image is the text “Dr. Brett Denevi.”

A neon turquoise speech bubble asks, “What is your role within Lunar-VISE?” A second neon turquoise speech bubble answers: “I am a Co-Investigator on Lunar-VISE and I will help work on understanding the regolith properties of the Gruithuisen domes and will contribute to the calibration of the cameras.”

A neon turquoise speech bubble asks, “What is your educational background?” The reply in another neon turquoise bubble reads: “I have a B.A. from Northwestern University and a Ph.D. from the University of Hawaii.”

A neon turquoise speech bubble asks, “What are some previous projects you have worked on and other projects you are currently working on?” A second neon turquoise speech bubble responds: “I am the Principal Investigator of the Artemis III Geology Team, I work on another CLPS mission called Lunar Vertex, and I work on cameras for two orbital missions – the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera on LRO and ShadowCam on the Korean Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter.”

Meet Dr. Brett Denevi! 👋 Brett is a Co-Investigator on Lunar-VISE, working to better understand the regolith properties of the Gruithuisen domes! 🌙

#LunarVISE #UCF #Gruithuisen #GruithuisenDomes #TeamSpotlight #LunarExploration

Full Moon graphic with the title "The Buck Moon." There is a male deer and trees all black to match the background.

Titled "Why is it called the Buck Moon?" with an answer of "The June full Moon gets its name from the fact that male deer, known as bucks, have their antlers nearly fully developed by this time of year."

Titled "When can you view the Buck Moon?" with an answer of "The Buck Moon will illuminate the night sky on July 10th! You'll have the chance to witness its beauty all night long, with the most stunning view occurring around midnight."

July’s full Moon is called the Buck Moon. 🦌 It appears in July, around the time deer are growing their antlers. A perfect reason to step outside and look up! 🌕

#LunarVISE #Space #SpaceLab #UCF #Moon #FullMoon #BuckMoon #JulyFullMoon #SummerMoon #Summer

Graphic titled “Member Spotlight: Graduate Student” with a photo of Zach Vig wearing a baseball cap and glasses. Below the image is the text “Zach Vig.”

A red speech bubble asks, “What is your role within Lunar-VISE?” A second red speech bubble answers: “I am one of the Lunar-VISE graduate students. My main role on the team is helping out with the radiometric calibration of the Lunar-VISE VNIR Imaging Camera (LV-VIC).”

A red speech bubble asks, “What is your educational background?” The reply in another red bubble reads: “I have a bachelor's degree in Geology and Physics from the University of Iowa. Additionally, I am currently pursuing my Ph.D. at the University of Maryland.”

A red speech bubble asks, “What are some previous projects you have worked on and other projects you are currently working on?” A second red speech bubble responds: “My current Ph.D. dissertation project investigates the mineralogy of the Gruithuisen Domes from orbit using the Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3). I think this study will be particularly applicable to interpreting the data we get back from Lunar-VISE since it might give us clues about what to look out for. Additionally, I conducted fieldwork at Medicine Lake Volcano, California, using a tripod-mounted hyperspectral thermal infrared imager to study rhyolite domes, focusing on understanding what geometric effects one has to account for when doing rover-based, in-situ, spectral imaging.”

Say hello to Zach Vig! 👋 Zach is one of the graduate students on Lunar-VISE. He focuses on calibrating the LV-VIC camera so we can capture high-quality images of the Moon’s surface.

#LunarVISE #Space #SpaceLab #UCF #Moon #Gruithuisen #MoonExploration #TeamSpotlight

Full Moon graphic titled "The Strawberry Moon" with the word "Strawberry" given a strawberry texture. There is a full Moon over a red space background.

Titled "Why is it called the Strawberry Moon?" with an explanation of "The June full Moon is called the “Strawberry Moon” because of the wild strawberry, which ripens in June. Found across the U.S., Canada, and Alaska, it is one of the first berries to ripen and represents an important spring harvest."

Titled "When can you view the full Moon?" with an explanation of "The Strawberry Moon will light up the sky on June 11th! You’ll be able to see it throughout the night, with the best view around midnight."

The Strawberry Moon is here to welcome summer! With wild berries ripening, this glowing full Moon marks the season’s sweet beginning. 🍓 Take a moment to step outside and look up! 🌕

#LunarVISE #Space #SpaceLab #UCF #Moon #FullMoon #StrawberryMoon #JuneFullMoon #SummerMoon

Meet Dr. Kristen Bennett! 🌕 She helps choose where we land on the Moon and how the rover explores. Kristen will also study the surface to learn more about ancient lunar volcanoes! 🌋

#LunarVISE #Space #UCF #Moon #MoonExploration

As we enter June, here’s a look at what the Moon will look like throughout the month! 🌙

#LunarVISE #Space #SpaceLab #UCF #Moon

Introducing Dr. Craig Hardgrove! 🌙 Dr. Hardgrove leads the development of the GRNS instrument, ensuring it’s ready to deliver precise gamma-ray and neutron data once we reach the Moon.🔬

#LunarVISE #UCF #Moon #TeamSpotlight

Did you know the Moon 🌕 is slowly drifting away from Earth about 1.5 inches every year? Swipe to discover more fascinating facts about our closest cosmic neighbor!

#LunarVISE #Space #SpaceLab #UCF #Moon #MoonFacts #DiscoverTheMoon #LunarKnowledge #MoonSecrets #LearnWithTheMoon

🌼The Flower Moon shines bright, celebrating the height of spring's bloom. Step outside and admire this seasonal full Moon.🌕
#LunarVISE #Space #SpaceLab
#UCF #Moon #FullMoon #FlowerMoon #MayFullMoon #SpringMoon #Spring