NASA releases stunning photo of Earth from Artemis on its way to the Moon
After leaving low Earth orbit, the crew will spend the next several days travelling toward the Moon
It’s an image 54 years in the making.
The crew aboard Artemis 2 just sent home some breathtaking photos of Earth as they make their way toward the Moon this weekend.
“Hello, World,” taken by Commander Reid Wiseman on April 2, provides a stunning view of the planet from high above the eastern Atlantic Ocean.
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The image, which is flipped upside down here to make features more easily recognizable, reveals a crisp sight of our blue marble.
The northern half of Africa and the Iberian Peninsula are both clearly visible in the frame, as is the Strait of Gibraltar in between. Clouds partially obscure the eastern half of South America, through which we can still see city lights shining along the coasts of Brazil.
It’s easy to make out the faint glow of Earth’s atmosphere, as well. Colourful auroras dance in the skies above the Arctic and Antarctic regions.
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Artemis 2’s commander sent home several photos of our planet on April 2, marking the first time humans have had such a wide view of Earth since Apollo 17 in December 1972.
That mission 54 years ago brought us The Blue Marble, which is one of the most famous pictures ever taken.
The spacecraft completed its trans-lunar injection burn on Thursday afternoon, placing the four-person crew on a course that will slingshot them around the far side of the Moon late this weekend before heading back to Earth.
Artemis 2’s flight path may take humans farther into deep space than any mission before it. The Orion capsule is scheduled for a splashdown off the coast of California on April 11.