A Setting Earth

A Setting Earth – The lunar surface fills the frame in sharp detail, as seen during the Artemis II lunar flyby, while a distant Earth sets in the background. This image was captured at 6:41 p.m. EDT on April 6, 2026, just three minutes before the Orion spacecraft and its crew passed behind the Moon and lost contact with Earth for approximately 40 minutes before emerging on the other side. In this view, the dark portion of Earth is experiencing nighttime, while on its day side, swirling clouds are visible over the Australia and Oceania region. In the foreground, Ohm crater shows terraced edges and a relatively flat floor marked by central peaks—formed when the surface rebounded upward during the impact that created the crater. Credit: NASA.

Associated with the Artemis II mission, this image captures a rare alignment of Earth, Moon, and spacecraft at a critical moment in flight. The contrast between the sharply defined lunar terrain and the distant, partially illuminated Earth emphasizes both scale and distance, offering a powerful visual of exploration in motion and the fleeting connection between our home planet and those traveling beyond it.