
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.
The Artemis 2 crewmembers captured a spectacular view of Earth setting behind the moon through the window of their Orion spacecraft on Flight Day 6 of NASA's historic 10-day mission, as they passed over the far side of the lunar surface. They called it "Earthset," in reference to the iconic image captured by Bill Anders on Christmas Eve in 1968 during the Apollo 8 mission.
What is it?
The photo was captured at 6:41 p.m. EDT (1041 GMT) on April 6, as the majority of Earth's surface was veiled in shadow from the perspective of the Artemis 2 crew. Just a crescent of our planet could be seen illuminated by direct sunlight, revealing white clouds swirling over Australia and Oceana.
Countless craters can be seen scarring the moon's ancient surface, including the 40-mile-wide (64-kilometer-wide) expanse of Ohm Crater, which can be seen close to where the lunar horizon meets the shadowed night side of Earth. The crater features a prominent central peak and a sloping "terraced" rim.
NASA's Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch and the Canadian Space Agency's Jeremy Hansen — the crew of the Orion spacecraft they named "Integrity" — witnessed Earth slip silently from view shortly after, as they passed over the far side of the moon.
They would later experience a planned 40-minute communications blackout while traveling beyond the range of NASA's relay satellites. But then, they witnessed an iconic "Earthrise" even more similar to what Anders saw in the 60s, as our Blue Marble emerged from behind its natural satellite.
The most detailed Artemis SLS Lego set, this adult-aimed model has 3,601 pieces and stands 28-inches (71 cm) tall. We thought "Lego has knocked it out of the park" in our full build review. Don't forget about the newer, more compact and much cheaper Lego Technic SLS set, only $60, also 'launches' with some clever Technic moving parts.
Later that day, the crew would be treated to one of the rarest sights in human history, a total solar eclipse witnessed from a free-flying spacecraft, as Orion's trajectory placed the moon between the NASA spacecraft and our parent star.
Want to know more? Then be sure to stay up to date with the latest news with our Artemis 2 liveblog. You can also find out what the Orion crew will be getting up to over the rest of their 10 day lunar trip with our day-by-day breakdown of the trailblazing mission, which has seen humans travel farther from Earth than ever before.
LATEST POSTS
- 1
Cyber Monday 2025: Save over 70% on HBO Max with this Prime Video streaming deal - 2
Best Amusement Park Bite: What Do You Very much want to Crunch On? - 3
Step by step instructions to Safeguard Your Teeth During Sports Exercises - 4
7 Odd Apparatuses to Make Your Party Stick Out! - 5
RSF attack on Sudan’s South Kordofan kills at least 14, including children
Did we start the fire? A 400,000-year-old hearth sparks new questions about human evolution
The Eastern Bongo, Kenya’s Rare Forest Antelope on the Brink
What's the new 'Knives Out' mystery about? Everything to know about 'Wake Up Dead Man,' including who's in the cast and what the reviews say.
Santa's sleigh or the International Space Station? How to spot a bright Christmas flyby Dec. 24 and 25
Renewables cover over 50% of German electricity consumption in Q1
The Century Coupe Could Be Toyota’s Most Ambitious Car Since the LFA
Horses really can smell our fear, new study finds
Most loved Amusement Park Firecrackers Show: Which One Lights Up Your Evening?
Charli xcx recorded original songs for 'Wuthering Heights' — what to know about the new album for Margot Robbie's film











