Artemis II Crew Captures Stunning Photos of Far Side of Moon

The four astronauts aboard the Orion capsule shared never-before-seen snapshots from their historic lunar flyby.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 3:26pm

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A highly structured abstract painting in earthy tones of blue, green, and gold, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric planetary circles, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the Artemis II crew's journey to the far side of the moon.The Artemis II crew's historic lunar flyby captured in a bold, abstract scientific visualization, showcasing the awe-inspiring sights of the far side of the moon.San Diego Today

The Artemis II crew has journeyed deeper into space than any humans in history, capturing stunning images of the far side of the moon during their lunar flyby. The four astronauts aboard the Orion capsule shared never-before-seen snapshots and video, including witnessing a total solar eclipse that lasted nearly seven times longer than any seen from Earth.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission represents a major milestone in human space exploration, with the crew traveling farther into space than any previous crewed mission. The images and video they captured provide unprecedented views of the far side of the moon, offering new scientific insights and capturing the public's imagination.

The details

During their seven-hour lunar flyby, the Artemis II crew flew within 4,067 miles of the moon's surface, circling the far side and sharing their awe-inspiring experiences. They captured stunning images and video of both the near and far sides of the moon, including witnessing a total solar eclipse that lasted 53 minutes - nearly seven times longer than any solar eclipse seen from Earth.

  • The Artemis II crew began their lunar flyby on April 6, 2026.
  • The crew shared their images and video on April 6, 2026.
  • The mission is expected to conclude with the crew's return to Earth on April 10, 2026, at approximately 8:07 p.m. ET.

The players

Artemis II Crew

A crew of four astronauts aboard the Orion capsule who have journeyed deeper into space than any humans in history, capturing stunning images and video of the far side of the moon.

Victor Glover

An astronaut aboard the Artemis II mission who shared his awe-inspiring experiences during the lunar flyby, including witnessing a total solar eclipse.

Reid Wiseman

The commander of the Artemis II mission, who intended to name an unnamed moon crater 'Carroll' after his late wife who passed away in 2020.

Al Roker

The TODAY show weatherman, who the Artemis II crew members expressed their disappointment in not being able to interview during the mission.

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What they’re saying

“We just went sci fi. It just looks unreal.”

— Victor Glover, Astronaut

“I have to be honest, I'm a little sad Al's not doing this interview, too. It's great to talk to you Tom, but I mean, Al! We had so much fun running around KSC (Kennedy Space Center) with him and so I hope he watched the launch, and we look forward to talking to him when we get back. Love you, Al.”

— Victor Glover, Astronaut

What’s next

The Artemis II mission is expected to conclude with the four astronauts returning to Earth on April 10, 2026, at approximately 8:07 p.m. ET, when they are scheduled to splash down in the Pacific Ocean near the coast of San Diego.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission has captured the public's imagination by providing unprecedented views of the far side of the moon, offering new scientific insights and demonstrating the continued progress of human space exploration. The stunning images and video captured by the crew during their historic lunar flyby will inspire future generations of space explorers.