NASA astronauts seize beautiful Earthrise picture : The Image Present : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2048x1366+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb9%2F68%2F83a9b27b45f9be8d4e5cc405b28f%2Fhftx7poxcaaks3g.jpeg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2048x1366+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb9%2F68%2F83a9b27b45f9be8d4e5cc405b28f%2Fhftx7poxcaaks3g.jpeg" class="img" alt="the Moon of the crater is the far side. " fetchpriority="high"/> Earthset captured by way of the Orion spacecraft window at 6:41 p.m. ET on April 6 through the Artemis II crew's flyby of the moon. A muted blue Earth with brilliant white clouds units behind the cratered lunar floor. The darkish portion of Earth is experiencing nighttime. Within the foreground, Ohm crater has terraced edges and a flat ground interrupted by central peaks. Central peaks type in complicated craters when the lunar floor, liquefied on affect, splashes upward through the crater's formation. NASA cover caption

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NASA The Artemis II astronauts are making their means again to Earth after the lunar flyby.

The crew grew to become the primary astronauts in over 50 years to fly across the far facet of the moon. In addition they skilled a photo voltaic eclipse.

Throughout the mission's loop across the moon, the crew took geological observations of locations of curiosity on the lunar floor with their very own eyes and snapping 1000's of pictures of the floor.

The crew will return to Earth on Friday and splash down off the coast of California. NASA says a touchdown on the lunar floor will not occur till 2028, on the earliest.

Here's what they captured.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2048x1366+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff3%2F50%2F39a58e014cf5bf7476b5b4bc7f2f%2Fhftzjn-wqaav0gp.jpeg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2048x1366+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff3%2F50%2F39a58e014cf5bf7476b5b4bc7f2f%2Fhftzjn-wqaav0gp.jpeg" class="img" alt="Eclipse" loading="lazy"/> April 6: Captured by the Artemis II crew throughout their lunar flyby, this picture reveals the moon absolutely eclipsing the solar. From the crew's perspective, the moon seems giant sufficient to utterly block the solar, creating almost 54 minutes of totality and increasing the view far past what is feasible from Earth. The corona kinds a glowing halo across the darkish lunar disk, revealing particulars of the solar's outer environment sometimes hidden by its brightness. Additionally seen are stars, sometimes too faint to see when imaging the moon, however with the moon in darkness, stars are readily imaged. This distinctive vantage level offers each a placing visible and a worthwhile alternative for astronauts to doc and describe the corona throughout humanity's return to deep area. The faint glow of the nearside of the moon is seen on this picture, having been illuminated by gentle mirrored off the Earth. NASA cover caption

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NASA <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5568x3712+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6b%2F30%2F660e2fc04ceb8da393229cac90a0%2Fart002e009281-orig-1.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5568x3712+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6b%2F30%2F660e2fc04ceb8da393229cac90a0%2Fart002e009281-orig-1.jpg" class="img" alt="art002e009281 (April 6, 2026) – The Artemis II crew captures a portion of the Moon coming into view along the terminator – the boundary between lunar day and night – where low-angle sunlight casts long, dramatic shadows across the surface. This grazing light accentuates the Moon’s rugged topography, revealing craters, ridges, and basin structures in striking detail. Features along the terminator such as Jule Crater, Birkhoff Crater, Stebbins Crater, and surrounding highlands stand out. From this perspective, the interplay of light and shadow highlights the complexity of the lunar surface in ways not visible under full illumination. The image was captured about three hours into the crew’s lunar observation period, as they flew around the far side of the Moon on the sixth day of the mission." loading="lazy"/> April 6: This can be a portion of the moon coming into view alongside the terminator — the boundary between lunar day and evening — the place low-angle daylight casts lengthy, dramatic shadows throughout the floor. This grazing gentle accentuates the moon's rugged topography, revealing craters, ridges and basin buildings in placing element. Options alongside the terminator, resembling Jule Crater, Birkhoff Crater, Stebbins Crater and surrounding highlands, stand out. NASA cover caption

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NASA <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5568x3712+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F42%2Fef%2F9ae884344c8e81a81f636946d14c%2Fart002e009298-orig.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5568x3712+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F42%2Fef%2F9ae884344c8e81a81f636946d14c%2Fart002e009298-orig.jpg" class="img" alt="art002e009298 (April 6, 2026) – A close-up view from the Orion spacecraft during the Artemis II crew’s lunar flyby on April 6, 2026, captures a total solar eclipse, with only part of the Moon visible in the frame as it fully obscures the Sun. Although the full lunar disk extends beyond the image, the Sun’s faint corona remains visible as a soft halo of light around the Moon’s edge. From this deep-space vantage point, the Moon appeared large enough to sustain nearly 54 minutes of totality, far longer than total solar eclipses typically seen from Earth. This cropped perspective emphasizes the scale of the alignment and reveals subtle structure in the corona during the rare, extended eclipse observed by the crew. The bright silver glint on the left edge of the image is the planet Venus. The round, dark gray feature visible along the Moon’s horizon between the 9 and 10 o’clock positions is Mare Crisium, a feature visible from Earth. We see faint lunar features because light reflected off of Earth provides a source of illumination." loading="lazy"/> April 6: A detailed-up view from the Orion spacecraft through the Artemis II crew's lunar flyby captures a complete photo voltaic eclipse, with solely a part of the moon seen within the body because it absolutely obscures the solar. Though the complete lunar disk extends past the picture, the solar's faint corona stays seen as a delicate halo of sunshine across the moon's edge. From this deep-space vantage level, the moon appeared giant sufficient to maintain almost 54 minutes of totality, far longer than whole photo voltaic eclipses sometimes seen from Earth. NASA cover caption

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NASA <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5568x3712+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe1%2F1d%2F52aa819f47558a8f803e6a452c9d%2Feclipseart002e009299-orig.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5568x3712+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe1%2F1d%2F52aa819f47558a8f803e6a452c9d%2Feclipseart002e009299-orig.jpg" class="img" alt="art002e009299 (April 6, 2026) – Captured from the Orion spacecraft near the end of the Artemis II lunar flyby on April 6, this image shows the Sun beginning to peek out from behind the Moon as the eclipse transitions out of totality. Only a portion of the Moon is visible in frame, its curved edge revealing a bright sliver of sunlight returning after nearly an hour of darkness. In final moments of the eclipse observed by the crew, the reemerging light creates a sharp contrast against the Moon’s silhouette and reveals lunar topography not usually visible along the lunar limb. This fleeting phase captures the dynamic alignment of the Sun, Moon, and spacecraft as Orion continues its journey back from the far side of the Moon." loading="lazy"/> April 6: Captured from the Orion spacecraft close to the tip of the Artemis II lunar flyby, this picture reveals the solar starting to peek out from behind the moon because the eclipse transitions out of totality. Solely a portion of the moon is seen within the body, its curved edge revealing a brilliant sliver of daylight returning after almost an middle of the night. NASA cover caption

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NASA <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/8256x5504+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe1%2F90%2F25e3c5eb4dd38f7079eb6004bbf3%2Fap26096695557198.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/8256x5504+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe1%2F90%2F25e3c5eb4dd38f7079eb6004bbf3%2Fap26096695557198.jpg" class="img" alt="the Moon" loading="lazy"/> April 6: This picture reveals the moon, the close to facet (the hemisphere we see from Earth) seen on the proper facet of the disk, identifiable by the darkish splotches. At decrease left is Orientale basin, a virtually 600-mile-wide crater that straddles the moon's close to and much sides. Every little thing to the left of the crater is the far facet. NASA by way of AP/NASA cover caption

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NASA by way of AP/NASA <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5568x3712+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F25%2F4b%2F79ef72984a7b80e5a1b0d5c4e37b%2Fap26096346779385.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5568x3712+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F25%2F4b%2F79ef72984a7b80e5a1b0d5c4e37b%2Fap26096346779385.jpg" class="img" alt="the Moon is seen in the window of the Orion spacecraft" loading="lazy"/> April 6: The moon is seen within the window of the Orion spacecraft, in a photograph taken by the Artemis II crew, on the finish of Day 5 of the journey to the moon. NASA by way of AP/NASA cover caption

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NASA by way of AP/NASA <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3005x1723+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F17%2F9a%2F698f2906488d933c464df91de533%2Fap26096814582804.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3005x1723+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F17%2F9a%2F698f2906488d933c464df91de533%2Fap26096814582804.jpg" class="img" alt="The Orion Spacecraft, the Earth and the Moon are seen from a camera as the Artemis II crew and spacecraft" loading="lazy"/> April 6: The Orion spacecraft, Earth and the moon are seen from a digital camera because the Artemis II crew and spacecraft journey farther into area. NASA by way of AP/NASA cover caption

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NASA by way of AP/NASA <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3471x2314+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdb%2F44%2F9a9f09c142d388e99fb03f595315%2Fap26096691156373.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3471x2314+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdb%2F44%2F9a9f09c142d388e99fb03f595315%2Fap26096691156373.jpg" class="img" alt="Artemis II pilot and NASA astronaut Victor Glover peers out one of the Orion spacecraft's windows looking back at Earth " loading="lazy"/> April 6: Artemis II pilot and NASA astronaut Victor Glover friends out one of many Orion spacecraft's home windows wanting again at Earth forward of the crew's lunar flyby. NASA by way of AP/NASA cover caption

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NASA by way of AP/NASA <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2182x1228+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fba%2Fce%2Fcd6972914655a8651d1d70214377%2Fap26094767135343.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2182x1228+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fba%2Fce%2Fcd6972914655a8651d1d70214377%2Fap26094767135343.jpg" class="img" alt=" Artemis II astronauts, from left, Reid Wiseman, Jeremy Hansen, Christina Koch and Victor Glover gather for an interview en route to the moon." loading="lazy"/> April 4: Artemis II astronauts (from left) Reid Wiseman, Jeremy Hansen, Christina Koch and Victor Glover collect for an interview en path to the moon. NASA by way of AP/NASA cover caption

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NASA by way of AP/NASA <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/8256x5504+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fba%2F6b%2Ff57aff5f4544b0c7cc55ffb6c45d%2Fap26096349953983.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/8256x5504+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fba%2F6b%2Ff57aff5f4544b0c7cc55ffb6c45d%2Fap26096349953983.jpg" class="img" alt="Astronaut Christina Koch is pictured on the fourth day of the mission, prepping for lunar flyby activities " loading="lazy"/> April 4: Astronaut Christina Koch preps for lunar flyby actions after finishing cardio train on the flywheel machine. NASA by way of AP/NASA cover caption

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NASA by way of AP/NASA <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2303x1475+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa5%2Fcd%2F3987fbee420ea6f60c758816c5b5%2Fap26093499352707.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2303x1475+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa5%2Fcd%2F3987fbee420ea6f60c758816c5b5%2Fap26093499352707.jpg" class="img" alt="An image of Earth taken by NASA’s Artemis II astronaut commander Reid Wiseman inside the Orion capsule." loading="lazy"/> April 3: A picture of Earth taken by astronaut Reid Wiseman contained in the Orion capsule. NASA by way of AP/NASA cover caption

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NASA by way of AP/NASA <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4000x3000+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2d%2Fdd%2F5915ccd14aff9b738bf1cbb59c08%2Fap26094793285427.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4000x3000+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2d%2Fdd%2F5915ccd14aff9b738bf1cbb59c08%2Fap26094793285427.jpg" class="img" alt="The exterior of the Orion spacecraft Integrity is seen during the Artemis II mission en route to the moon." loading="lazy"/> April 3: The outside of the Orion spacecraft Integrity is seen through the Artemis II mission en path to the moon. NASA by way of AP/NASA cover caption

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NASA by way of AP/NASA <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5568x3712+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbd%2F46%2F7f7950694f5a8f5a1c5c2b668690%2Fap26094810890288.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5568x3712+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbd%2F46%2F7f7950694f5a8f5a1c5c2b668690%2Fap26094810890288.jpg" class="img" alt="The Earth seen from a window on the Orion spacecraft Integrity during the Artemis II mission en route to the moon." loading="lazy"/> April 3: The Earth seen from a window on the Orion spacecraft Integrity through the Artemis II mission en path to the moon. NASA by way of AP/NASA cover caption

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NASA by way of AP/NASA <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5568x3712+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F43%2F98%2F84da0d0f473eaa7fb12f31aaaf50%2Fgettyimages-2269359193.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5568x3712+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F43%2F98%2F84da0d0f473eaa7fb12f31aaaf50%2Fgettyimages-2269359193.jpg" class="img" alt="IN SPACE - APRIL 03: (EDITOR'S NOTE: This Handout image was provided by a third-party organization and may not adhere to Getty Images' editorial policy.) In this handout image provided by NASA, NASA astronaut Christina Koch is illuminated by a screen inside the darkened Orion spacecraft on the third day of the agency's Artemis II mission on April 3, 2026. To the right of the image's center, CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen is seen in profile peering out of one of Orion's windows. Lights are turned off to avoid glare on the windows. NASA's Artemis II mission will take Wiseman, Glover, Koch, and Hansen on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back aboard their Orion spacecraft. (Photo by NASA via Getty Images)" loading="lazy"/> April 3: NASA astronaut Christina Koch is illuminated by a display contained in the darkened Orion spacecraft on the third day of the company's Artemis II mission. To the proper of the picture's heart, Canadian House Company astronaut Jeremy Hansen is seen in profile peering out one among Orion's home windows. Lights are turned off to keep away from glare on the home windows. NASA by way of AP/Getty Photographs North America cover caption

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NASA by way of AP/Getty Photographs North America <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5568x3712+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F24%2Fb0%2Fc979e7d64cd98476881657739e60%2Fap26093511396128.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5568x3712+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F24%2Fb0%2Fc979e7d64cd98476881657739e60%2Fap26093511396128.jpg" class="img" alt="A view of Earth taken by NASA astronaut and Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman" loading="lazy"/> April 2: A view of Earth taken by Wiseman from of the Orion spacecraft's window after finishing the translunar injection burn. NASA by way of AP/NASA cover caption

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NASA by way of AP/NASA <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3088x2316+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F26%2Fc5%2F4272364b4cd998425ddd3f4b79a5%2Fap26095502270607.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3088x2316+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F26%2Fc5%2F4272364b4cd998425ddd3f4b79a5%2Fap26095502270607.jpg" class="img" alt=" Astronaut and Artemis II mission specialist Christina Koch peers out of one of the Orion spacecraft's main cabin windows, looking back at Earth, as the crew travels towards the Moon." loading="lazy"/> April 2: Mission specialist Christina Koch friends out one of many Orion spacecraft's principal cabin home windows, wanting again at Earth, because the crew travels towards the moon. NASA by way of AP/NASA cover caption

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NASA by way of AP/NASA <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5000x3156+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2b%2Fba%2F59d906894069a5f26d362a74a2e6%2Fap26092545530202.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5000x3156+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2b%2Fba%2F59d906894069a5f26d362a74a2e6%2Fap26092545530202.jpg" class="img" alt="A view of the Earth " loading="lazy"/> April 2: A view of Earth from the Orion spacecraft because it orbits above the planet through the Artemis II check flight. NASA by way of AP/NASA cover caption