Artemis II crew captures stunning "Earthset", lunar eclipse

NASA has released the first photographs taken by the Artemis II astronauts during their flyby of the Moon, providing breathtaking views of Earth and the Sun from lunar orbit.

The first image shows an “Earthset,” with our home planet peeking out beyond a cratered lunar landscape. The second photograph captures a dramatic solar eclipse, as the Moon briefly blocked out the Sun, giving the crew a rare celestial spectacle. NASA has not specified which astronaut took the images during the return journey to Earth, BBC reports.

Earthset.

The Artemis II crew captured this view of an Earthset on April 6, 2026, as they flew around the Moon. The image is reminiscent of the iconic Earthrise image taken by astronaut Bill Anders 58 years earlier as the Apollo 8 crew flew around the Moon. pic.twitter.com/ag72r97wzb

— NASA Artemis (@NASAArtemis) April 7, 2026

The Earthset photograph echoes the iconic Earthrise image taken by Bill Anders aboard Apollo 8 in 1968, a mission that preceded the historic first human landing on the Moon the following year. The view of a fragile blue planet against the blackness of space continues to be regarded as one of the most enduring environmental photographs ever captured.

The images were taken during a six-hour flyby, including a period of radio silence when the Orion capsule was behind the Moon. According to NASA, the Earthset shot was captured through the Orion spacecraft window at 18:41 Eastern Daylight Time (23:41 BST) on April 6.

“The dark portion of Earth is experiencing nighttime. On Earth’s day side, swirling clouds are visible over the Australia and Oceania region,” NASA said. “In the foreground, Ohm crater has terraced edges and a flat floor interrupted by central peaks. Central peaks form in complex craters when the lunar surface, liquefied on impact, splashes upwards during the crater’s formation.”

The lunar eclipse was a highlight for the crew. Victor Glover described it as “sci-fi” and “unreal,” marveling at the view of the Sun’s corona.

“This continues to be unreal,” he said. “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.”

These first images from Artemis II offer a glimpse of the Moon and Earth from a perspective few have ever witnessed, connecting humanity once again to the wonder of space exploration.

By Vafa Guliyeva