Artemis II astronauts capture Moon fly-by images
NASA has released the first images captured by astronauts aboard the Artemis II mission during their fly-by of the Moon, offering rare and striking views of Earth and space. One of the standout images shows an “Earthset,” with our planet appearing to dip behind the Moon’s rugged, crater-filled surface. The scene echoes the iconic Earthrise photograph taken during Apollo 8 by astronaut Bill Anders, a picture widely regarded as one of the most influential environmental images ever captured. Another photograph reveals a dramatic solar eclipse observed from space, as the Moon completely blocked the Sun. From the crew’s vantage point aboard the Orion spacecraft, the eclipse lasted far longer than what is typically visible from Earth—nearly 54 minutes of totality. Astronaut Victor Glover described the experience as “unreal” and “sci-fi,” highlighting the glowing solar corona forming a bright halo around […]