US EditionThe Artemis II Mission Sends Back Stunning Images of the Far Side of the Moon
NASA says four astronauts aboard Orion captured near-side and far-side Moon views during the mission's second flight day.
- On Monday, April 6, 2026, the Artemis II crew released images from their lunar flyby after traveling a record 248,655 miles from Earth.
- Flying around the Moon's far side, the astronauts observed terrain typically hidden from Earth, including the nearly 600-mile-wide Orientale Basin straddling both lunar hemispheres.
- Using a 400mm handheld camera, the crew documented the Vavilov Crater and identified two smaller craters within Orientale Basin, which they suggested naming Integrity and Carroll.
- These observations offer scientists a rare window into planetary surface impacts, helping refine models of crater formation and the Moon's geologic history spanning billions of years.
- The four astronauts are now en route back toward Earth, with the Orion capsule scheduled to splash down in the Pacific Ocean on Monday, April 10, 2026.
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They show the side of the moon that we don't see from here, and the Earth in the background, rising and setting
Artemis II Astronauts Capture Side of the Moon That's Rarely Seen
The NASA Artemis II astronauts recorded history yesterday by traveling further from Earth than humans before them -- 248,655 miles (400,000 kilometers) -- and on their epic journey, the crew has been capturing awe-inspiring photos of rarely seen celestial sights.
The US space agency has published new images of the Moon, sunset and eclipse taken during the historic overflight. More information: From an iPhone to Outlook, this is the daily Earth technology used in the Artemis II mission to the Moon.
First image from the far side of the moon revealed as Artemis 2 astronauts set distan
NASA releases rare images of Earth from beyond moon’s far side; crew reaches 406,684 km from Earth (252,700 miles), the farthest humans have traveled, surpassing Apollo 13 record during historic mission
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