{"id":2986,"date":"2026-04-12T02:24:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-12T02:24:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/?p=2986"},"modified":"2026-04-12T02:24:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T02:24:09","slug":"the-best-photos-from-nasas-first-moon-mission-in-more-than-50-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/?p=2986","title":{"rendered":"The best photos from NASA&#8217;s first moon mission in more than 50 years"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">NASA\u2019s Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight around the moon in more than 50 years, has been a feast for the eyes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch and Victor Glover and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen concluded their 10-day mission Friday evening with a\u00a0splashdown landing in the Pacific Ocean.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The crew launched April 1 on the 10-day journey, which took them around the far side of the moon. They traveled farther from Earth than any humans had before, breaking the distance record set by the Apollo 13 crew in 1970.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/TIwlNKPotCAjv6grW8yhkA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/nbc_news_122\/e94b2d86b7cdb72fc7f6cc057111476b\" alt=\"NASA&amp;#x002019;s Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft are seen, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA&amp;#x002019;s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (John Kraus \/ NASA)\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"8\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 line-clamp-2 pr-2.5\">\n<div>\n<div>NASA\u2019s Artemis II Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (John Kraus \/ NASA)<\/div>\n<p>(John Kraus)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Their\u00a0photos from the lunar flyby on Monday \u2014 when they saw parts of the moon that no humans had ever viewed with their own eyes \u2014 have captivated public attention.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">NASA plans to release many more images from the mission now that the crew can hand over its data, rather than beaming it back from space. But for now, here are some of the best photos from Artemis II.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/FHD.QBVBkjsvAQA3im_n5Q--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/nbc_news_122\/2a903275f8d869f5530cf0853aeb01f3\" alt=\"Artemis II Launches Manned Test Flight Around The Moon (Chip Somodevilla \/ Getty Images)\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"10\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 line-clamp-2 pr-2.5\">\n<div>\n<div>From left to right: Mission specialist Jeremy Hansen of CSA, pilot Victor Glover, commander Reid Wiseman and mission specialist Christina Koch walk out ahead of the launch on April 1. (Chip Somodevilla \/ Getty Images)<\/div>\n<p>(Chip Somodevilla)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The mission launched from NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Artemis II crew were the first people that NASA\u2019s Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System rocket had ever carried into space.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Artemis II was one of the most highly anticipated space events in recent years, since it was the first time people have launched toward the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/FhSItnJeAoA_SOeVlGWVHg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/nbc_news_122\/874220e7c81efa73d74bec6be1494c2a\" alt=\"Image: The Artemis II crewed lunar mission lifts off from Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (Jim Watson \/ AFP via Getty Images)\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"11\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 line-clamp-2 pr-2.5\">\n<div>\n<div>The Artemis II mission lifts off at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (Jim Watson \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/div>\n<p>(Jim Watson)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/mXhMj.wDqAkF0fJ9JwAzeA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTUzNjtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/nbc_news_122\/c1b1c9a14284a39dff05868b9a83b720\" alt=\"Artemis II launch on April 1, 2026. (NASA)\" width=\"960\" height=\"536\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"12\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div>\n<div>NASA<\/div>\n<p>(NASA)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The launch was delayed several times earlier this year for rocket repairs, but when the day finally arrived, local officials in central Florida\u2019s \u201cSpace Coast\u201d estimated that hundreds of thousands of people flocked to the area to watch Artemis II lift off.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/Od0hDadeHGvIvDbUzflO5A--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTMyODtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/nbc_news_122\/103e1dd0209024d29903496430837985\" alt=\"NASA\/Getty Images\" width=\"960\" height=\"328\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"13\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div>\n<div>NASA\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<p>(NASA\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"max-md:faux-bleed mb-4 bg-marshmallow pb-5 dark:bg-ramones md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<div class=\"py-2 text-center text-xs uppercase\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/.MK5mY4cY7dkia7zlAo3Og--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTE0NDA7Y2Y9d2VicA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/nbc_news_122\/8eb936abbccf9bd48210f671524bb4a8\" alt=\"The Artemis II crewed lunar mission launches at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral. (Jim Watson \/ AFP via Getty Images)\" width=\"960\" height=\"1440\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"14\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div>\n<div>Jim Watson \/ AFP via Getty Images<\/div>\n<p>(Jim Watson)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/lSXKTu1y8RD3de6cU2hITw--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTE0NTM7Y2Y9d2VicA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/nbc_news_122\/6648c63f5df576ac19ad986f15c414ea\" alt=\"US-SPACE-ARTEMIS II-NASA (Jim Watson \/ AFP via Getty Images)\" width=\"960\" height=\"1453\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"15\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div>\n<div>Two solid rocket boosters separate and fall toward Earth. (Jim Watson \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/div>\n<p>(Jim Watson)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Although Wiseman, Koch, Glover and Hansen did not land on the lunar surface, their mission was designed to test the rocket and capsule ahead of a planned moon landing in 2028. After that, NASA hopes to build a base on the moon and establish a long-term presence there.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">On the second day of the flight, the Orion capsule performed a key engine burn to put it on a path toward the moon. The maneuver, known as a translunar injection burn, boosted the spacecraft\u2019s velocity enough to send it out of Earth orbit.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/3MBeToIxk4je8MKQ21RuEg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTcyNDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/nbc_news_122\/c3448867b1fd3a687970f71c29b8dc31\" alt=\"NASA\" width=\"960\" height=\"724\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"16\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div>\n<div>NASA<\/div>\n<p>(NASA)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The astronauts then spent three days journeying to the moon. Early on Monday, their Orion capsule entered a region of space known as the lunar sphere of influence, where the moon\u2019s gravitational pull is stronger than Earth\u2019s.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/H_Y0XqKC9rpNS7iHV.XleQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/nbc_news_122\/ac881636fd27c06df7b37aec17760fd0\" alt=\"Before going to sleep on Day 5 of the mission, the Artemis II crew snapped a photo of the moon as it drew close in the window of the Orion spacecraft. (NASA)\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"17\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 line-clamp-2 pr-2.5\">\n<div>\n<div>Before going to sleep on Day 5 of the mission, the Artemis II crew snapped a photo of the moon as it drew close in the window of the Orion spacecraft. (NASA)<\/div>\n<p>(NASA)<\/p><\/div>\n<div><button class=\"mt-1 rapid-noclick-resp bg-primary text-sm text-scooter dark:text-[color:var(--fg-link)] ml-2 absolute bottom-0 right-0 before:content-['...']\" data-ylk=\"elm:loadmore;itc:1;sec:content-canvas;slk:more;\" data-rapid_p=\"34\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button>The most anticipated moment of the mission came on Monday, when the crew spent seven hours taking close-up photos of the lunar surface and observing specific sites on the moon, including impact craters, ridges and vast volcanic plains.<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">During their flyby around the moon\u2019s far side, the astronauts reached a distance of 252,756 miles from Earth, which was more than 4,100 miles farther than the Apollo 13 record.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/giKbFFHSFsNERP_prGE1Ag--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/nbc_news_122\/515929b1e79757c268ef38ba9e1d86d0\" alt=\"A darkened space shuttle capsule with three astronauts inside it. On the left, Christina Koch is illuminated by a screen inside the darkened Orion spacecraft. To the right of the image&amp;#39;s center Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen is seen in profile peering out of one of Orion&amp;#39;s windows. Lights are turned off to avoid glare on the windows. (NASA)\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"18\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 line-clamp-2 pr-2.5\">\n<div>\n<div>Astronaut Christina Koch is illuminated by a screen inside the darkened Orion spacecraft on the third day of the agency&#8217;s Artemis II mission. (NASA)<\/div>\n<p>(NASA)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">One of the first photos from the flyby released publicly showed the Artemis II crew\u2019s view of \u201cEarthset,\u201d as Earth disappeared out of view behind the moon.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The photo was a nod to the iconic \u201cEarthrise\u201d image taken during the Apollo 8 mission in 1968, when astronauts Bill Anders, Frank Borman and Jim Lovell circumnavigated the moon. That archival image, however, captured Earth re-emerging beyond the edge of the moon, rather than dipping below it.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/FpByxZZ3kH7Ne6KPdg8ChQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0NjtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/nbc_news_122\/b80958ddd8764e29a688c2c56cdafdec\" alt=\"NASA\" width=\"960\" height=\"646\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"19\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div>\n<div>NASA<\/div>\n<p>(NASA)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Other photos showed surprisingly rugged topography along the moon\u2019s terminator, the dividing line between its illuminated side and the side cloaked in darkness.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cThere\u2019s just so much magic in the terminator \u2014 the islands of light, the valleys that look like black holes,\u201d Glover radioed to Mission Control at NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston. \u201cYou\u2019d fall straight to the center of the moon if you stepped in some of those. It\u2019s just so visually captivating.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The astronauts focused some of their observations on Orientale basin, a nearly 600-mile-wide crater that straddles the moon\u2019s near and far sides. The 3.8 billion-year-old basin was formed when a large object smacked into the moon\u2019s surface.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The crew\u2019s high-resolution photos of features in and around the moon\u2019s impact craters could help scientists understand how the moon formed and how its topography changed over time.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/lLLO4DRtpdyKUYO4Fg09Ow--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTcyMDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/nbc_news_122\/ea7f8b0314eeb3e4efd541c1d469bf27\" alt=\"Image: The Orion spacecraft is seen in the foreground lit up by the Sun. A waxing gibbous Moon is visible in the background. Orientale basin, a 600-mile-wide impact crater ringed by mountains, is visible toward the center bottom of the Moon. This basin straddles the Moon&amp;#x002019;s near and far sides. To the left of Orientale, which has a patch of ancient lava in its basin, is the far side; this is the hemisphere we don&amp;#x002019;t get to see from Earth. To the right of Orientale is the near side, the hemisphere we see every day from Earth. The nearside is notable for giant, dark patches of ancient lave flows that cover its surface. (NASA)\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"20\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 line-clamp-2 pr-2.5\">\n<div>\n<div>The sunlit Orion spacecraft near the moon. The Orientale basin, a 600-mile-wide, mountain-ringed crater, sits on the moon&#8217;s lower half. (NASA)<\/div>\n<p>(NASA)<\/p><\/div>\n<div><button class=\"mt-1 rapid-noclick-resp bg-primary text-sm text-scooter dark:text-[color:var(--fg-link)] ml-2 absolute bottom-0 right-0 before:content-['...']\" data-ylk=\"elm:loadmore;itc:1;sec:content-canvas;slk:more;\" data-rapid_p=\"36\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button>The astronauts even captured dramatic images of the moon\u2019s crater-filled south polar region, where NASA is interested in landing astronauts on future Artemis missions.<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The moon\u2019s south pole is pockmarked with craters that are thought to be filled with water ice. But the area is significantly more challenging to navigate than those near the moon\u2019s equator, where the\u00a0Apollo astronauts\u00a0touched down. NASA has said observations during the Artemis II mission could be used to pinpoint possible landing sites for missions to come.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mb-4\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Toward the end of their lunar flyby, the astronauts became the first to witness a solar eclipse from space. They made detailed observations over the course of about an hour, as the sun slipped behind the moon and re-emerged again on the other side.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">During the early stages of the eclipse, the astronauts had to don special glasses (much like the ones worn by people on Earth to view solar eclipses) to protect their eyes until the sun\u2019s light was fully blocked by the moon.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/CIEm7UJvLui5rApdNsE.4w--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTcyMDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/nbc_news_122\/37e89351e8dc2da2074a9bff9f7d4d0a\" alt=\"The Artemis II crew uses eclipse viewers to protect their eyes at key moments of the solar eclipse during their lunar flyby. (NASA )\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"22\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 line-clamp-2 pr-2.5\">\n<div>\n<div>The Artemis II crew uses eclipse viewers to protect their eyes at key moments of the solar eclipse during their lunar flyby. (NASA )<\/div>\n<p>(NASA)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The eclipse photos show a darkened moon with the sun\u2019s outermost atmosphere, the corona, glowing around the edges. In one of the images, bright points of light are visible around the edges of the moon. Those spots turned out to be planets, including Saturn, Mars and Venus.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Wiseman called the eclipse \u201can absolutely spectacular, magnificent experience.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">During the eclipse, as the moon was cloaked in darkness, the crew members spotted flashes of light from meteoroids smacking into the lunar surface.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/cpVMekTeNAG85_USZZsWMg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTcyMDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/nbc_news_122\/06d1e42526558451191c0d13547197b1\" alt=\"The moon, illuminated only partially, and the Orion spacecraft capsule.  (NASA)\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"23\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div>\n<div>The moon, backlit by the sun, and the Orion spacecraft, left, on Monday. (NASA)<\/div>\n<p>(NASA)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">While this phenomenon is rarely seen, such impacts are common on the moon because it lacks an atmosphere to protect it from incoming debris. Studying these cosmic crashes can help scientists understand the moon\u2019s evolutionary history.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Kelsey Young, the Artemis II lunar science lead, said members of the mission\u2019s science team were \u201cjumping up and down literally\u201d after the crew reported seeing six impact flashes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">After the flyby, the astronauts began their three-day journey home to Earth. By Tuesday afternoon, the Orion capsule exited the lunar sphere of influence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">During its high-stakes re-entry through Earth\u2019s atmosphere, the Orion capsule faced extreme temperatures nearing 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/PfpzMCFXae9o3fceLqZY.g--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/nbc_news_122\/891d9d125fa2f0eff83bba6870bc97a3\" alt=\"Image: Artemis II Moon Mission: Recovery (Bill Ingalls \/ NASA via Getty Images)\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 line-clamp-2 pr-2.5\">\n<div>\n<div>NASA&#8217;s Orion spacecraft lands in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California on Friday. (Bill Ingalls \/ NASA via Getty Images)<\/div>\n<p>(Bill Ingalls)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">After a fiery plunge through the atmosphere, the capsule deployed its parachutes, then splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">This article was originally published on\u00a0NBCNews.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NASA\u2019s Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight around the moon in more than 50 years, has been<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":2987,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,9,32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2986","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-science","category-world"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2986","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2986"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2986\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2988,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2986\/revisions\/2988"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2987"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2986"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2986"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2986"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}