Photos show stunning views of the moon and Earth from the Artemis II mission

08 Apr 2026, 08:30 by The Associated Press via NASA

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In this image provided by NASA, The Artemis II crew captured from lunar orbit, the Moon eclipses the Sun on Monday, April 6, 2026. Credit: NASA via AP

The Artemis II astronauts—three Americans and one Canadian—hurtled deeper into space than any other humans during a moon flyby Monday that marks NASA's lunar comeback.

They were greeted by a total solar eclipse as they became the first to gaze by eye at parts of the elusive far side of the moon, before hanging a celestial U-turn for home.

In this image provided by NASA, Commander Reid Wiseman peers out the window of the Orion spacecraft just as his first lunar observation period of the Moon begins during a lunar flyby, Monday, April 6, 2026. NASA via AP)
In this image provided by NASA, the Artemis II crew captured this view as the Earth sets behind the Moon during a lunar flyby, Monday, April 6, 2026. NASA via AP)
In this image provided by NASA, the Artemis II crew, counterclockwise from top left, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover pose with eclipse viewers during a lunar flyby, Monday, April 6, 2026. NASA via AP)
In this image provided by NASA, the Artemis II crew captured this image of the heavily cratered terrain of the eastern edge of the South Pole-Aitken basin of the Moon with the shadowed terminator – the boundary between lunar day and night during a lunar flyby, Monday, April 6, 2026. NASA via AP)
In this image provided by NASA, the Artemis II crew captured this view as the Earth sets behind the Moon during a lunar flyby, Monday, April 6, 2026. Credit: NASA via AP
In this image provided by NASA, the Artemis II crew captured this image of the Vavilov Crater on the Moon during a lunar flyby, Monday, April 6, 2026. NASA via AP)
In this image provided by NASA, Artemis II crew members, from left, Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen, Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch, pause to turn the camera around for a selfie midway through their lunar observation period of the Moon during a lunar flyby, Monday, April 6, 2026. Credit: NASA via AP
In this image provided by NASA, The Artemis II crew captured this view of an Earthset on Monday, April 6, 2026, as they flew around the Moon. Credit: NASA via AP
In this image provided by NASA, the Artemis II crew captured this image of the Sun beginning to peek out from behind the Moon as an eclipse transitions out of totality during a lunar flyby, Monday, April 6, 2026. NASA via AP)

Key concepts

Earth-moon systemAstrophotographyThe Moon