Craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho, USA May 2, 2024

Buckle up, Earthlings, as you venture into an extraterrestrial realm right here on our planet! Surrounded by the rugged landscape of Idaho, the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve were born of the volcanic forces that shaped the region thousands of years ago. Visitors are greeted by a surreal vista of vast lava fields, cinder cones and spatter cones, reminiscent of a lunar surface, spread across almost 21,853 hectares. Did you know that the Apollo 14 astronauts trained here to prepare for their moon missions? The space travellers were able gain insight into similar conditions found on the moon by exploring the unique volcanic geology of the Craters of the Moon. So, if you ever want to visit outer space without leaving Earth, Craters of the Moon should be right up your alley.

© Alan Majchrowicz/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

May 2, 2025Striated heron on a Victoria water lily, Pantanal, Brazil

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Mar 17, 2025Samuel Beckett Bridge, Dublin, Ireland
Sep 20, 2023Aqueduct, Arkadia Park, Poland
Aug 21, 2024Nazca boobies
Dec 13, 2025Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California, United States
Jun 19, 2024Water tower in Cuxhaven, Germany
Dec 16, 2024Salzburg, Austria
Jun 28, 2025Mannheim Water Tower, Germany
Sep 27, 2023French River, Ontario, Canada
Feb 20, 2026Horsetail Fall in Yosemite National Park, California, United States
Mar 28, 2024Cherry blossoms in Shanghai, China
Jan 22, 2024Walton Lighthouse, Santa Cruz, California, USA
Nov 22, 2025Monte Sirente, Abruzzo, Italy
Apr 3, 2025Saguaro National Park, Arizona, United State
Jul 17, 2025Lavender fields in Plateau de Valensole, France
Dec 13, 2024St. Stephens Basilica, Budapest, Hungary
Nov 8, 2025Bandon Beach in Bandon, Oregon, United States
May 9, 2025Common chameleon
Dec 24, 2025Starling murmuration, Brighton, England
May 1, 2024Hawaiian lei flower garlands
Jul 27, 2025Barracudas at Shark Reef, Ras Mohammed National Park, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt
Dec 26, 2024Christmas lights at Mousehole harbour, Cornwall, England
Feb 6, 2024Lake Tahoe
Jul 14, 2024La Geria wine region, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain
Aug 30, 2024Whale shark
Jun 10, 2025Everglades National Park, Florida, United States
Aug 17, 2024Alfanzina lighthouse, Algarve, Portugal
Dec 23, 2024Two red-crowned cranes in Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan
Sep 5, 2024Toronto, Canada
Mar 16, 2025A kingfisher perched on a branch
Jun 17, 2025Maritime forest in Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia, United States