Artemis II Astronauts Capture Earth's Beauty on Moonbound Journey

The crew's first images show our planet's brilliant blue hues as they zoom toward the moon.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 5:49pm

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A highly structured abstract painting in soft, earthy tones of blue, green, and orange, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric planetary circles, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the Artemis II spacecraft's journey to the moon.The Artemis II mission's historic journey to the moon inspires a bold, abstract visualization of the spacecraft's path through the cosmos.Cape Canaveral Today

The Artemis II astronauts have captured stunning images of Earth's blue beauty as they travel toward the moon, the first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years. The crew's first downlinked photos show a curved slice of Earth and the entire globe with swirling white clouds, as well as a glowing green aurora. The astronauts are currently 100,000 miles from Earth and quickly gaining on the moon, with another 160,000 miles to go before reaching their destination on Monday.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission marks a significant milestone in space exploration, as the first crewed lunar flight since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. The stunning images captured by the astronauts provide a rare and breathtaking glimpse of our home planet from the perspective of deep space, underscoring the fragility and beauty of Earth.

The details

The Artemis II crew, consisting of three Americans and one Canadian, fired the Orion capsule's main engine on Thursday night to set them on a course toward the moon. After Mission Control shifted the position of their capsule, the astronauts were able to see the entire Earth, complete with a glowing green aurora, filling their windows. According to commander Reid Wiseman, this was the 'most spectacular moment' that paused all four crew members in their tracks.

  • On April 2, 2026, the Artemis II astronauts completed the translunar injection burn, setting them on a course toward the moon.
  • As of midmorning on April 3, 2026, the Artemis II crew was 100,000 miles from Earth and quickly gaining on the moon, with another 160,000 miles to go before reaching their destination on Monday.

The players

Reid Wiseman

The commander of the Artemis II mission, one of the three American astronauts on board.

Orion

The spacecraft that is carrying the Artemis II astronauts on their journey to the moon.

NASA

The U.S. space agency that is overseeing the Artemis II mission, the first crewed lunar flight since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

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What they’re saying

“It was the most spectacular moment, and it paused all four of us in our tracks.”

— Reid Wiseman, Artemis II Commander

What’s next

The Artemis II astronauts are scheduled to reach the moon on Monday, where they will swing around the lunar surface in their Orion capsule before heading straight back home without stopping.

The takeaway

The stunning images captured by the Artemis II astronauts provide a rare and breathtaking glimpse of our home planet from the perspective of deep space, underscoring the fragility and beauty of Earth. This mission marks a significant milestone in space exploration, as the first crewed lunar flight since the Apollo 17 mission over 50 years ago.