Discover NASA's Artemis II mission around the Moon in 12 stunning photos

April 11, 2026

3 minutes of reading

THE Artemis II The mission’s 10-day odyssey around the Moon and back was captured every moment in stunning photography. Here are 12 of our favorite images

By Joseph Howlett edited by Claire Cameron

A view of half of the Moon's disk, topped by a tiny Earth crescent. — NASA

NASA launched four astronauts on a pioneering journey around the Moon: the Artemis II assignment. Follow our coverage here.

THE Artemis II lunar mission could have ended after a 10 day trip around the moon and back. But fortunately, the mission crew – Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen – along with NASA cameras on Earth and in space, filmed their daring journey from start to finish.

In fact, the mission was widely communicated to the world through photos, including those from Monday’s closing conference. lunar flyby. From the moment the Orion spacecraft I left the launch pad Last Wednesday, each stage was made timeless with stunning and life-changing visuals that were beamed back to Earth via the Orion spacecraft. new laser-based communication system.

Here’s a look at twelve of our favorite photographs from the mission, including the moon photos that inspired billions of people to gaze up at the night sky again.

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1. Launch day

Thousands of people traveled to Florida’s Space Coast on Wednesday, April 1 to attend the to remove of the first crewed lunar mission since 1972. The launch went welland a few hours later the astronauts were in a controlled orbit, positioning themselves for a maneuver to set them on their way to the Moon the next day.

Photo of spectators holding up their smartphones as a rocket rises into the daytime sky. — NASA

2. Spaceship Earth

On Tuesday April 2, the Orion space probe burned 6,700 pounds of fuel to exit Earth’s orbit and head towards its distant target. The astronauts looked out of the capsule’s windows at an ever-smaller Earth, engaged in their long journey.

Astronaut Christina Koch looks out the window of the Orion spacecraft at a pale white earth in the distance. — NASA

3. The terminator

At the start of the sixth day of the mission, lunar observations began with the impressive sight of light and shadow. the “Terminator”— the boundary between the daytime and nighttime hemispheres of the Moon. “I wish I had more time to sit here and describe what I’m seeing, but the Terminator right now is just fantastic,” Glover told Houston Mission Control. Fortunately, we have photos like this to imagine the spectacle.

Close-up of a cratered moon half obscured by darkness, the border crossing from lower left to upper right. — NASA

4. East Basin

There are many features on the far side that lunar scientists I couldn’t wait to see human eyes for the first time. Satellite images cannot convey certain details that the human eye can, such as the hues and topography of certain features on the Moon. Kelsey Young, lunar scientist of the mission at NASA, questioned The Oriental Basin particularly interesting and the feature she hoped astronauts would shed new light on. This is a major asteroid impact crater that has taught planetary scientists a lot about what these impacts look like throughout the solar system.

Close-up of a well-lit moon with a visible gap at the bottom right and a large dark crater in the center of the frame. — NASA

5. Grounding

In 1968, Apollo 8 Astronaut William Anders took an impromptu photo of Earth looking behind the far side of the Moon. It became known as Earthrise, an iconic image of our planet that inspired space enthusiasts and conservationists. Much was expected of the Orion crew to relay something of equal beauty. And although they captured an Earthrise, perhaps the best photo to compare to the 1968 image is the amazing Earthset.

An Earth lit by a crescent rising from a dark lunar surface like a half-obscured sunrise. — NASA

6. A new vision of the Earth

This indescribable photo of the Moon and Earth in shadow, taken at 6:41 p.m. EDT on Monday, April 6, has become a sensation. It’s called “A New Vision of Earth.”

A view of half of the Moon's disk, topped by a small Earth crescent. — NASA

7. Family portrait

Photos taken with Orion’s outer camera while it was on the far side of the Moon showed the immense distance between the astronauts and the housewith our small imposing moon in the foreground and the Earth a small crescent at the edge of the frame.

On the left, part of a spaceship. To the right is a large view of the crescent Moon, with a small crescent of Earth just to its right. — NASA

8. Eclipse with planets

Even after the astronauts experienced the Earth rising, the wonders were far from over. The astronauts also witnessed a rare solar eclipse seen from space. Amid the sudden darkness caused by the moon passing in front of the sun, the astronauts were able to see Saturn, Mars, Mercury, Venus and countless stars. This photo shows the first three of these four planets (from left to right), along with a barely visible Neptune in the middle of them.

The moon appears as a dark sphere, with a faint white light visible behind it. — NASA

9. Solar eclipse of the heart

In this photo, Earth appears behind the left side of the moon, saturating the frame with its “Earthshine”, the light of the planet, just like the sun.

On the left, part of a spaceship. On the right, the moon looks like a black ball levitating in front of a bright light source. — NASA

10. Introduce it

After Tuesday’s arduous science flyby, the crew finally had a moment to celebrate. The main objective of the mission was unrequited successthanks to their diligence.

Four astronauts share a group hug inside a small, cluttered spaceship. A fancy moon plush toy with an earth hat looks on longingly. — NASA

11. Landing!

Friday at 8:07 p.m. EDT, the Orion crew landed safely and on schedule, capping a mission filled with groundbreaking science and historic firsts.

A small spaceship with two large parachutes on top lands on a blue Pacific Ocean. — NASA

12. The joy of the moon comes home

After Navy divers carefully retrieved the astronauts from their floating craft and brought them aboard the USS John P. Murtha, millions around the world rejoiced as they celebrated their successful return.

Two astronauts in orange spacesuits pose happily after a safe landing. — NASA

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