Artemis II Astronauts Witness 'Earthrise' and 'Earthset' on Historic Lunar Journey

NASA's latest moon mission recreates iconic 1968 'Earthrise' photo and captures stunning 'Earthset' during journey around the moon.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 1:20pm

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A bold, abstract painting in soft greens, blues, and grays, featuring sweeping geometric arcs and concentric circles representing the Earth and Moon in a cosmic dance, conveying the structural order of the universe without using any text or symbols.The Artemis II mission's stunning 'Earthrise' and 'Earthset' images evoke the fragility and beauty of our planet, inspiring renewed commitment to protect our only home in the universe.Houston Today

The crew of NASA's Artemis II mission, which launched four astronauts on a pioneering journey around the moon, had the opportunity to recreate the iconic 1968 'Earthrise' photograph as well as capture a stunning 'Earthset' during their mission. The astronauts lost contact with Houston Ground Control for around 40 minutes as the Orion spacecraft rounded the far side of the moon, but were able to regain the signal and share their awe-inspiring views of Earth.

Why it matters

The original 'Earthrise' image from the Apollo 8 mission in 1968 is credited with helping to spark a global environmental movement by showing the fragility and beauty of our planet. The Artemis II mission's recreation of this iconic photograph, as well as the new 'Earthset' image, continue to remind us of the preciousness of our home and the need to protect it.

The details

During the Artemis II mission, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, had the opportunity to witness both 'Earthrise' and 'Earthset' as the Orion spacecraft rounded the moon's far side. The 'Earthrise' moment recreated the famous 1968 photograph taken by the late astronaut William Anders during the Apollo 8 mission. Less than an hour before, the crew also captured the stunning 'Earthset' as our planet appeared to set behind the moon.

  • On Monday, the Artemis II crew witnessed the 'Earthrise' and 'Earthset' moments during their journey around the moon.
  • The original 'Earthrise' photograph was taken by William Anders on December 24, 1968, during the Apollo 8 mission.

The players

Artemis II Crew

The four-person crew of NASA's Artemis II mission, including NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, as well as Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

William Anders

The late astronaut who took the iconic 'Earthrise' photograph during the Apollo 8 mission in 1968.

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What they’re saying

“To Asia, Africa and Oceania: We are looking back at you. We hear you can look up and see the moon right now. We see you too.”

— Christina Koch, NASA Astronaut

“There's the Earth comin' up. Wow, is that pretty!”

— William Anders

“It's the only home in the universe for us humans. And it's too bad we don't treat it a little better.”

— William Anders

What’s next

The Artemis II mission is the first crewed flight of the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System rocket, paving the way for future Artemis missions that aim to establish a sustainable human presence on and around the moon.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission's recreation of the iconic 'Earthrise' photograph and capture of the stunning 'Earthset' image continue to remind us of the fragility and beauty of our planet, inspiring us to be better stewards of the only home we have in the universe.