Artemis II Crew Spots Smiling Face on Lunar Surface

NASA astronauts capture playful image of 'man in the moon' during historic mission.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 2:54am by Ben Kaplan

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A highly textured, abstract painting in earthy tones depicting the geometric shapes and contours of a large lunar crater, conveying a sense of the moon's structural order and natural beauty.The Artemis II crew's whimsical capture of a smiling lunar crater highlights the human element of space exploration.San Francisco Today

The Artemis II crew has captured a remarkable image of the lunar surface that appears to show a smiling face on the moon. The image, taken during the spacecraft's flyby of the moon, reveals a giant crater that resembles a cheerful expression. The crew has requested that certain lunar features be named after loved ones, further adding to the personal nature of this historic mission.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission is a significant milestone in space exploration, as the first crewed mission to the moon since the Apollo era. The playful discovery of the 'smiling moon' adds a touch of whimsy to the mission, capturing the public's imagination and showcasing the human element of space travel.

The details

The Artemis II crew captured the image of the Orientale basin, a massive lunar crater, which appears to show a smiling face on the moon's surface. Viewers have noted the resemblance to various cartoon characters, including Doraemon, a popular Japanese manga cat. The crew has also requested that certain lunar features be named after loved ones, including a bright spot to be called 'Carroll' after the late wife of mission commander Reid Wiseman.

  • The Artemis II crew captured the 'smiling moon' image on April 6, 2026 during their lunar flyby.
  • The crew broke the record held by Apollo 13 for the furthest distance from Earth traveled by humans just hours before the image was released.

The players

Artemis II Crew

The four-person crew of NASA's Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight to the moon since the Apollo era.

Reid Wiseman

The commander of the Artemis II mission, who requested that a lunar feature be named after his late wife, Carroll.

Jeremy Hansen

A Canadian astronaut on the Artemis II mission, who announced the crew's request to name a lunar feature after Wiseman's wife.

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What’s next

The Artemis II crew is now on their journey back to Earth, with a scheduled splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Francisco on April 18, 2026.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission has captured the public's imagination with its playful discovery of the 'smiling moon', adding a touch of whimsy to the historic journey. The crew's personal requests to name lunar features after loved ones further humanize the mission, reminding us of the human element behind the incredible feats of space exploration.