Moon fever hits DC as Artemis 2 rocket 'candle' lights up Washington Monument just 1 month before launch (photos)

Images depicting NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket are projected onto the Washington Monument as part of an event to kick off the nation's 250th birthday year, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Washington, D.C.

The U.S. capital was just moonstruck — or at least, the Washington Monument was.

An image of NASA's iconic Saturn V rocket was projected onto the monument at night between Dec. 31 and Jan. 5. That latter date is just a month out from the possible launch of the Artemis 2 round-the-moon mission with four astronauts, which is scheduled to lift off as soon as Feb. 6.