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Artemis II astronauts share first images from Moon flyby
NASA has released the initial photographs taken by the Artemis II crew as they passed near the Moon, including a striking view of Earth appearing to set behind the lunar horizon and a rare solar eclipse.
Earthset evokes iconic Apollo 8 moment
One of the images shows Earth emerging above a cratered lunar landscape, reminiscent of the famous Earthrise photograph captured by Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders in 1968. The new shot was taken through the Orion spacecraft's window at 18:41 Eastern Daylight Time (23:41 BST) on Monday.
NASA described the scene: the night side of Earth appears dark, while swirling clouds cover parts of Australia and Oceania on the day side. In the foreground, Ohm Crater features terraced edges and a flat floor with central peaks-formed when the lunar surface liquefied upon impact and rebounded.
Solar eclipse wows crew
A second photograph captures a dramatic solar eclipse, with the Moon blocking the Sun and revealing its glowing corona. Astronaut Victor Glover called the sight "sci-fi" and "unreal."
"The Sun has gone behind the Moon and the corona is still visible, and it's bright and creates a halo almost around the entire Moon. The Earth is so bright out there and the Moon is just hanging in front of us."
Victor Glover, Artemis II astronaut
Mission details
The images were taken during a six-hour lunar flyby, which included a period of radio silence as the Orion capsule passed behind the Moon. NASA did not specify which of the four astronauts took the photographs.
The crew is now on their return journey to Earth after completing the flyby, marking another milestone in the Artemis program's goal of returning humans to the Moon.
