Artemis II Astronauts Capture Striking 'Earthset' Photo

The new images channel the iconic 'Earthrise' shot from Apollo 8 in 1968.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 3:27pm

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A bold, abstract painting in muted tones of blue, green, and grey, depicting the Artemis II spacecraft orbiting the moon with the Earth visible in the background. The composition features sweeping geometric arcs, concentric planetary circles, and precise celestial spirals, conveying the structural order of the lunar environment.The Artemis II mission's stunning 'Earthset' photo evokes the iconic imagery of the Apollo era, underscoring NASA's continued progress toward a new age of lunar exploration.Houston Today

The four-person crew of the Artemis II mission have captured a series of stunning new photos during their historic lunar flyby, including a striking 'Earthset' image that evokes the famous 'Earthrise' shot taken by the Apollo 8 astronauts in 1968. The Artemis II astronauts are now headed back to Earth after completing their mission.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission marks NASA's first crewed return to the moon since the Apollo era, paving the way for future lunar landings. The new 'Earthset' photo is a powerful visual callback to the iconic imagery that helped inspire the modern environmental movement.

The details

In addition to the 'Earthset' image, the Artemis II crew also captured a photo of a total solar eclipse as the moon passed between the spacecraft and the sun. NASA scientists are now closely analyzing the trove of lunar photos beamed back to Earth by the four-person crew.

  • The Artemis II astronauts completed their historic lunar flyby on April 6, 2026.
  • The crew is scheduled to splash down in the Pacific Ocean on April 10, 2026.

The players

Artemis II

NASA's second crewed mission to the moon, following the uncrewed Artemis I flight in 2022.

Apollo 8

The 1968 mission that saw the first humans orbit the moon, capturing the iconic 'Earthrise' photograph.

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What they’re saying

“The Artemis II astronauts are now forever intertwined with Apollo 8.”

— Marcia Dunn, AP Aerospace Writer

What’s next

The Artemis II crew is scheduled to splash down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, April 10, 2026, completing their historic mission.

The takeaway

The stunning new 'Earthset' photo captured by the Artemis II astronauts serves as a powerful visual callback to the iconic imagery of the Apollo era, underscoring NASA's continued progress toward a new era of lunar exploration.