Artemis II Crew Capture ‘Stunning’ Earth Views During Lunar Journey

NASA has unveiled the initial high-definition images of Earth captured by the Artemis II crew as they embark on their orbital journey around the Moon. These photographs were taken following a critical engine burn that positioned the crew on a course toward their celestial destination. The mission’s lead astronaut, Reid Wiseman, shared the striking visuals with mission control in Houston, highlighting the moment as a memorable one.

The first image, labeled “Hello, World,” captures the vast blue expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, bordered by a faint atmospheric glow. At this point, Earth partially obscures the Sun, with vibrant green auroras visible at both poles. The planet appears inverted in the frame, showcasing the western Sahara and Iberian Peninsula on the left, while the eastern coast of South America extends to the right. NASA confirmed the bright object in the bottom-right corner is Venus.

“We are getting a beautiful view of the dark side of the Earth, lit by the Moon,” said mission specialist Jeremy Hansen, describing the crew’s reaction after the trans-lunar injection burn completed in the early hours of Friday. The maneuver launched the Orion spacecraft beyond Earth’s orbit, propelling the four astronauts toward a lunar distance exceeding 200,000 miles.

Artemis II now follows a trajectory that will circle the Moon’s far side before returning to Earth. This marks the first human venture beyond Earth’s orbit since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. The crew is expected to reach the far side on 6 April and complete their return journey by 10 April.

Wiseman later contacted mission control to inquire about cleaning the windows, as the astronauts’ eagerness to photograph space had left them streaked with smudges. Initially, he struggled with adjusting exposure settings to capture Earth from the spacecraft, comparing the experience to “walking out back at your house, trying to take a picture of the moon.” But this challenge has since been overcome.

A subsequent image from Wiseman reveals Earth divided by the boundary between night and day, known as the terminator. Another photograph captures the planet nearly shrouded in darkness, with human-made lights twinkling like stars across the night. NASA also released a side-by-side comparison of this 2026 view with the Apollo 17 images from 1972, emphasizing the enduring beauty of Earth from space.

“We’ve come so far in the last 54 years, but one thing hasn’t changed: our home looks gorgeous from space!” NASA wrote, reflecting on the mission’s significance and the timeless allure of Earth as seen from the cosmos.