NASA Releases First Image of Earth from Artemis 2 Moon Mission
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- NASA shares high-resolution Earth shots captured from space by Artemis 2 crew.
- Mission images reveal the planet’s day-night division and glowing city lights.
NASA has released the first high-resolution images of Earth, taken by the crew of the Artemis 2 mission during their journey around the Moon.
Mission commander Reid Wiseman captured the shots, which NASA described as "stunning," after the crew completed the final engine burn that put them on a trajectory toward our nearest celestial neighbor.
The first image, titled “Hello, World”, shows the vast expanse of the deep blue Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by a faint atmospheric glow, while Earth partially blocks the Sun, and the green auroras are visible near the poles.
The planet appears upside down, with the Sahara and the Iberian Peninsula on the left, and the eastern part of South America on the right. NASA also identified the bright planet Venus at the lower right of the frame.
Artemis 2 is now in a circular path that will take it around the far side of the Moon before returning, marking the first human mission beyond Earth orbit since 1972. The crew is expected to pass the Moon’s far side on April 6 and return to Earth on April 10.
Mission specialist Jeremy Hansen told Houston’s control center that the crew was “glued to the windows” to capture the images after the final engine burn, noting that Earth illuminated by moonlight created a spectacular view.
Later, Wiseman contacted mission control to ask about cleaning the windows, after the astronauts’ excitement left them dusty from observing the universe. He explained that capturing photos from this distance was initially challenging due to exposure settings, saying: "It’s like trying to photograph the Moon from your backyard."
Now, taking pictures has become easier. One image shows Earth divided between day and night, known as the day-night line or the "Terminator."
NASA also released another close-up image of Earth at night, showcasing twinkling city lights, allowing a side-by-side comparison with a similar photo taken by Apollo 17 in 1972—the last mission to land humans on the Moon—highlighting that “even after 54 years, our view of the planet from space remains breathtaking.”