NASA has unveiled stunning high-resolution images captured by the Artemis II crew as their spacecraft makes its way around the Moon. Commander Reid Wiseman took the impressive shots after the crew completed a crucial engine burn, putting them on a course to our nearest celestial neighbor.
The first image, named 'Hello, World', beautifully depicts the vast Atlantic Ocean and a thin layer of atmosphere, with Earth appearing to eclipse the Sun along with green auroras visible at the poles.
The planet is photographed from an unusual angle, sporting the Iberian Peninsula and Western Sahara to the left and portions of South America on the right.
NASA confirmed the visible bright object identified in the image as the planet Venus.
These remarkable images come after a successful trans-lunar injection burn that allowed the Orion spacecraft to exit Earth's orbit, embarking on a journey of over 200,000 miles to the Moon. This historic mission marks the first time humans have traveled beyond Earth’s orbit since 1972. The crew is expected to pass the far side of the Moon on April 6, returning to Earth on April 10.
In addition to the breathtaking shots of Earth, Wiseman also shared another image illustrating the dividing line between night and day across the globe, known as the terminator.
As the crew gazed out, mission specialist Jeremy Hansen expressed their excitement about the stunning views, saying, 'We are getting a beautiful view of the dark side of the Earth, lit by the Moon.' The crew's enthusiasm for their role has created a memorable experience as they continue their journey through space.
The first image, named 'Hello, World', beautifully depicts the vast Atlantic Ocean and a thin layer of atmosphere, with Earth appearing to eclipse the Sun along with green auroras visible at the poles.
The planet is photographed from an unusual angle, sporting the Iberian Peninsula and Western Sahara to the left and portions of South America on the right.
NASA confirmed the visible bright object identified in the image as the planet Venus.
These remarkable images come after a successful trans-lunar injection burn that allowed the Orion spacecraft to exit Earth's orbit, embarking on a journey of over 200,000 miles to the Moon. This historic mission marks the first time humans have traveled beyond Earth’s orbit since 1972. The crew is expected to pass the far side of the Moon on April 6, returning to Earth on April 10.
In addition to the breathtaking shots of Earth, Wiseman also shared another image illustrating the dividing line between night and day across the globe, known as the terminator.
As the crew gazed out, mission specialist Jeremy Hansen expressed their excitement about the stunning views, saying, 'We are getting a beautiful view of the dark side of the Earth, lit by the Moon.' The crew's enthusiasm for their role has created a memorable experience as they continue their journey through space.
