NASA Captures Stunning Photos of Moon's Far Side During Artemis II Flyby

Artemis II astronauts document never-before-seen lunar terrain and rare eclipse during historic mission.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 1:36pm

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NASA's Artemis II astronauts have captured remarkable images of the far side of the moon, revealing new insights into the lunar surface. During their seven-hour flyby on April 6, 2026, the crew documented impact craters, ancient lava flows, and fractures on the moon's hidden hemisphere. They also witnessed a rare 53-minute solar eclipse and the phenomenon of Earthrise as they circled behind the moon.

Why it matters

These unprecedented images from the Artemis II mission provide scientists with a rare opportunity to study the geology and history of the far side of the moon, which has remained largely mysterious and unexplored. The observations could help unlock new understanding about the moon's formation and evolution over billions of years.

The details

The Artemis II crew captured detailed views of several key lunar features, including the massive Orientale basin, the South Pole-Aitken basin, and the Vavilov crater. They also documented six meteor impact flashes on the moon's darkened surface. In addition to the stunning visual data, the astronauts experienced a rare in-space solar eclipse and the breathtaking sight of Earth rising above the lunar horizon.

  • On April 6, 2026, the Artemis II crew conducted a seven-hour flyby of the far side of the moon.
  • During the flyby, the astronauts witnessed a 53-minute solar eclipse.
  • The Artemis II mission is expected to splash down off the coast of San Diego on Friday, April 12, 2026 at 5:07 p.m.

The players

NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and space research.

Artemis II

The second mission in NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the moon, including the first woman and first person of color. Artemis II is an uncrewed lunar flyby mission that will pave the way for future crewed Artemis missions.

Reid Wiseman

The commander of the Artemis II mission, who captured images of the lunar surface and observed the rare solar eclipse during the spacecraft's flyby.

Jeremy Hansen

An Artemis II astronaut who photographed the lunar surface through the Orion spacecraft's camera shroud.

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What they’re saying

“These unprecedented images from the Artemis II mission provide scientists with a rare opportunity to study the geology and history of the far side of the moon, which has remained largely mysterious and unexplored.”

— NASA

What’s next

The Artemis II mission is expected to splash down off the coast of San Diego on Friday, April 12, 2026 at 5:07 p.m. The images and data collected during the lunar flyby will be analyzed by scientists to further our understanding of the moon's geological history.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission has delivered a stunning new perspective on the far side of the moon, unlocking secrets that have remained hidden from human view for billions of years. These remarkable images and observations will undoubtedly advance our scientific knowledge of Earth's celestial companion and pave the way for future crewed missions to explore the lunar surface in greater detail.