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.

Slept through the total lunar eclipse last night? Don't worry: There will be another chance to catch another stunning celestial event this month. Well at least partially. The total lunar eclipse known as the "blood moon" amazed Americans last night as the moon and the sun were on exact opposite sides of Earth.

Early Friday morning, the Earth moved between the sun and the moon, casting its shadow on the lunar surface and turning it into a full blood moon. It was quite early in the morning, though. Like 1 a.m.