The Artemis II astronauts—three Americans and one Canadian—traveled farther into space than any humans in history during a moon flyby on Monday, signaling NASA’s return to lunar exploration. During the journey, they witnessed a total solar eclipse and became the first people to see portions of the moon’s far side with their own eyes. After this historic moment, the crew began their journey back to Earth, capturing stunning images of both the moon and our planet along the way.
In this image provided by NASA, the Artemis II crew captured from lunar orbit, the moon eclipses the sun on Monday, April 6, 2026. (NASA via AP)In this image provided by NASA, the Artemis II crew captured this image of the Orientale basin, a round crater with a black patch in the center, on the moon during a lunar flyby, Monday, April 6, 2026. (NASA)In this image provided by NASA, the Artemis II crew captured this image of a portion of the moon coming into view along the 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. (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. (NASA via AP)In this image provided by NASA, the moon eclipses the sun on Monday, April 6, 2026. (NASA via AP)The moon, backlit by the sun during a solar eclipse on April 6, 2026, is photographed by one of the cameras on the Orion spacecraft’s solar array wings. (NASA)
