Earthset Views from Orion Spacecraft | NASA Artemis II Moon Mission
Echoing the iconic Earthrise photo captured by the Apollo 8 astronauts in 1968, during the lunar flyby, the Artemis II crew captured a shot of Earthset as they passed behind the Moon’s far side. It is one of many photos taken during the seven-hour lunar flyby by the Artemis II crew on the Orion spacecraft.
Taking a peek at Earth from the Moon's far side
The Earth appears to be peeking out over the horizon of the Moon, but pictured here is actually an Earthset. During an Earthset, the planet appears to sink below the lunar horizon. In this scene, a partially lit crescent Earth drops behind the Moon as seen by crew on the Orion spacecraft. The image also shows the vast canvas of the Moon’s surface with its overlapping craters and basins.
Hertzsprung Basin in Light and Shadow
As the Artemis II crew flew around the far side of the Moon, they captured key scientific observations, photographs, videos, and records documenting critical observations to help scientists on the ground understand the composition and history of the lunar surface. Near the center of the view lies Hertzsprung basin, an ancient and expansive impact feature described by the Artemis II crew as darker in overall tone compared to surrounding terrain. Crew observations highlight a striking contrast in texture: the interior of Hertzsprung appears unusually smooth, “like a paved road,” while the outer regions transition into rougher, more jagged terrain. Subtle variations in brightness and color across the basin create a patchwork of lighter and darker areas, offering clues to its complex geologic history. Surrounding regions show evidence of ejecta and crater rays, with faint brownish and gray tones radiating across the highlands. Together, these features provide a dynamic view of one of the Moon’s oldest and most intriguing basins.
As the Artemis II crew flew around the far side of the Moon, they captured key scientific observations, photographs, videos, and records documenting critical observations to help scientists on the ground understand the composition and history of the lunar surface. Near the center of the view lies Hertzsprung basin, an ancient and expansive impact feature described by the Artemis II crew as darker in overall tone compared to surrounding terrain. Crew observations highlight a striking contrast in texture: the interior of Hertzsprung appears unusually smooth, “like a paved road,” while the outer regions transition into rougher, more jagged terrain. Subtle variations in brightness and color across the basin create a patchwork of lighter and darker areas, offering clues to its complex geologic history. Surrounding regions show evidence of ejecta and crater rays, with faint brownish and gray tones radiating across the highlands. Together, these features provide a dynamic view of one of the Moon’s oldest and most intriguing basins.
The Artemis II Mission wrapped up a historic seven-hour lunar flyby on April 6, 2026, marking humanity’s first return to the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972 and capturing images of the lunar far side. During their nearly 10-day mission, the crew completed a record-setting lunar flyby, taking them 252,756 miles at their farthest distance from Earth and 4,067 miles above the lunar surface at their closest approach.
The first crewed test flight of NASA’s Artemis program lifted off from Launch Pad 39B at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 6:35 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), April 1, 2026, carrying the first astronauts to travel to the Moon in more than half a century.
Artemis II splashed down at 8:07 p.m. April 10 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. Following splashdown and recovery, the four crew members underwent post-mission medical evaluations before returning to shore and boarding an aircraft bound for Houston. Upon arrival, the crew was welcomed by and reunited with their families, friends, and agency workforce.
Under Artemis, NASA will send astronauts on increasingly difficult missions to explore more of the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to build on our foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars.
Learn more about NASA's Artemis II Mission:
https://www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-ii/
Get ready for NASA's Artemis III Mission:
https://www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-iii/
https://www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-iii/
Image Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center
Image Date: April 6, 2026
Image Date: April 6, 2026
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