Wait, NASA Astronauts Took THOUSANDS of Photos on Artemis II? Here Are 23 That Totally Wowed Us

This dazzling nighttime snap of Earth was taken on April 2, 2026, through Orion’s window right after a big rocket boost sent them toward the Moon. Earth looks like it's glowing just for the Artemis II crew - and honestly, who wouldn’t stare at this view forever?

From the Orion spaceship window, commander Reid Wiseman caught this moody view of Earth's shadowy side right after their big lunar launch boost. The dark half of Earth looks low-key spooky and super cool all at once.

Astronaut Christina Koch is lit up by a screen in the dark cabin of Orion, while fellow astronaut Jeremy Hansen gazes out the window. It's like space's own cozy night in - minus the fuzzy slippers.

Captured just as Earth began to disappear below the Moon’s curved edge on April 6, 2026. The shot shows some fancy space geography with giant craters and swirling clouds on Earth. It’s like Earth saying goodnight before the astronauts swing around the Moon’s far side.

Here’s a close-up of Vavilov Crater, showing off those dramatic shadows where sunlight is playing peekaboo across the lunar landscape. It’s like the Moon’s version of a moody black-and-white film.

From the Artemis II crew’s view, the Moon totally covers the Sun for nearly an hour! This eclipse shot shows a glowing halo and even faint stars popping out where the Sun’s glare usually hides them. Talk about front-row seats to a cosmic show.

NASA’s Reid Wiseman takes a serious moment to gaze out Orion’s window, soaking up views of Earth from space. If you were him, wouldn’t you be daydreaming about pizza or your couch back home?

Check out this skinny little sliver of Earth shining bright against the vast blackness of space. It’s like Earth’s giving a little wink from afar.

The Artemis II astronauts saw a ‘handprint’ shape on the Moon, thanks to the dark and light swirls of lunar seas and craters. It's not an alien signal, but way cooler - a neat patchwork of lunar geography.

Astronaut Reid Wiseman snapped Earth blazing by Orion’s window after their big rocket boost. Earth looks like it’s ready to race across space in this sharp shot.

A delicate arc of Earth catches the sun’s glow while the rest of the planet hides in shadow. It’s like Earth’s giving a shy smile to space.

This cool pic shows the line where lunar day meets lunar night - the terminator. Shadows stretch long and wild, making craters and mountains stand out like a rugged lunar runway.

An Artemis II crew member caught Earth glowing against the deep black of space, making it look like the ultimate precious gem among the stars.

Orion spaceship snapped its own high-res selfie during a regular check-up in space. One small step for a selfie, one giant leap for spacecraft photography!

Nine minutes before Earth slipped below the horizon, this shot from Orion’s window showed the moonlit lunar surface with Earth hanging in the distance. It’s like the ultimate space office view.

Right after their rocket boost, Reid Wiseman caught this view of Earth’s day-night boundary line - a stunning blend of half-lit clouds and dark skies, like nature’s own light switch.

Before hitting the hay on day 5, the crew snapped this cozy Moon close-up. At this moment, they were officially more pulled by the Moon’s gravity than Earth’s. Space bedtime tales just got cooler!

Here’s a cool view showing the Moon’s near side (the face we always see from Earth) with its dark volcanic patches and that huge Orientale crater straddling near and far sides. It’s like looking at a cratered cookie from space!

This shot is like the Moon’s mood ring - bright craters, volcanic hills, and strange swirls all mix together to make lunar real estate look wild and vibrant.

During their lunar flyby, the crew snapped the mega-sized Orientale basin. Imagine a crater so huge it’s like the Moon’s biggest bruise from millions of years ago - still looking dramatic!

On April 6, 2026, the crew saw Earth slowly dip behind the Moon. The blue and white globe looked like a calm cosmic sunset painting with swirling clouds and craters in the foreground - so beautiful it’s hard to believe it’s real.

As they flew behind the Moon, the crew grabbed this dreamy shot of a crescent Earth glowing softly against the dark sky. It’s the kind of view that melts your space-loving heart.

This faint but fab view shows crescent Earth hanging over the Moon’s far side horizon. It’s like Earth’s quiet spotlight moment while the Moon steals the show.