NASA Captures Stunning Images During Historic Artemis II Lunar Flyby

The Artemis II crew took thousands of photos, including rare views of the moon's far side and a solar eclipse.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 9:38pm

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A bold, abstract painting in the style of Hilma af Klint, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise spirals in earthy tones of blue, green, and gold, representing the Artemis II crew's views of the moon, Earth, and a solar eclipse during their historic lunar flyby.The Artemis II crew's stunning views of the moon, Earth, and a rare solar eclipse during their historic lunar flyby offer a glimpse into the wonders of deep space exploration.Houston Today

The Artemis II mission performed a historic lunar flyby, coming within 4,067 miles of the moon. The crew captured over 10,000 photos, including rare views of the moon's far side, an 'Earthset' as the planet appeared to set behind the lunar surface, and a spectacular solar eclipse where the moon blocked the sun, revealing the sun's outer atmosphere. The images will help inform scientists' understanding of the moon and its origins, and lay the groundwork for future missions to the lunar surface.

Why it matters

This Artemis II mission represents a major milestone in humanity's return to deep space exploration. The stunning images captured during the flyby provide unprecedented views of the moon and solar system, offering new scientific insights and inspiration for future lunar and space exploration efforts.

The details

During the seven-hour flyby, the four-person Artemis II crew - NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen - took about 10,000 photos. They observed features on the lunar surface like ancient lava flows, impact craters, and the Orientale Basin, one of the moon's youngest large craters. The astronauts also witnessed a rare solar eclipse, where the moon completely blocked the sun, allowing them to see the sun's outer atmosphere or 'corona' for nearly an hour, much longer than a typical total solar eclipse on Earth.

  • On April 3, the Artemis II mission performed its much-anticipated lunar flyby.
  • The flyby lasted seven hours, during which the astronauts captured around 10,000 photos.
  • Communications were lost for about 40 minutes as Orion passed behind the moon.

The players

Reid Wiseman

NASA astronaut and commander of the Artemis II mission.

Victor Glover

NASA astronaut on the Artemis II crew.

Christina Koch

NASA astronaut on the Artemis II crew.

Jeremy Hansen

Canadian Space Agency astronaut on the Artemis II crew.

Kelsey Young

Science officer for the Artemis II mission.

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What they’re saying

“We were well prepared, and we appreciate all of you, and this is what we do best when we all come together and work as a team. So y'all knocked it out of the park. Thank you for giving us this opportunity.”

— Reid Wiseman, Artemis II Commander

“I can't say enough how much science we've already learned and how much inspiration you've provided to our entire team, the lunar science community, and the entire world with what you were able to bring today. You really brought the moon closer for us today. And we cannot say thank you enough.”

— Kelsey Young, Artemis II Science Officer

“When we were on the far side of the moon, looking back at Earth, you really felt like you weren't in a capsule. You'd been transported to the far side of the moon. And it really just bent your mind. It was an extraordinary human experience. We're so grateful for it.”

— Jeremy Hansen, Canadian Space Agency Astronaut

What’s next

The Artemis II crew will continue their journey around the moon, with a planned splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on April 18. The images and data collected during the flyby will be analyzed by scientists to further our understanding of the moon and inform future Artemis missions, including the planned Artemis III landing that aims to put the first woman and first person of color on the lunar surface.

The takeaway

The Artemis II lunar flyby represents a major milestone in humanity's return to deep space exploration. The stunning images captured by the crew, including rare views of the moon's far side and a spectacular solar eclipse, will provide invaluable scientific data and inspiration for future lunar and space missions. This mission underscores the power of international collaboration and the continued human drive to explore the unknown.