Earthset: Nasa shares planet in a rare cosmic mirror moment captured by Artemis II crew

NASA released a breathtaking image of Earth dipping below the lunar horizon, marking the first such photograph in over five decades since the iconic “Earthrise” was taken during the Apollo 8 mission in 1968.

The new picture, dubbed “Earthset”, was captured by astronauts aboard the Orion capsule during the Artemis II mission’s record-breaking lunar flyby. The crew, consisting of US astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Victor Glover, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, are in orbit around the Moon as part of a mission designed to pave the way for a human landing in 2028. Posting the image on X, NASA shared the historic glimpse as it drew comparisons from the iconic Earthrise image shared by the Apollo 8 crew as they flew around the moon. It said, "Earthset. The Artemis II crew captured this view of an Earthset on April 6, 2026, as they flew around the Moon. The image is reminiscent of the iconic Earthrise image taken by astronaut Bill Anders 58 years earlier as the Apollo 8 crew flew around the Moon.

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The same image was shared by the White House as it wrote, “Humanity, from the other side. First photo from the far side of the Moon. Captured from Orion as Earth dips beyond the lunar horizon.”

The photo instantly drew comparisons to the legendary “Earthrise” taken in December 1968 by NASA astronaut Bill Anders during Apollo 8—the first crewed mission to orbit the Moon. That photograph, showing Earth’s vivid blue orb contrasted against the grey lunar surface and the blackness of space, went on to become one of history’s most celebrated images, symbolising humanity’s shared fragility and unity.

During their ongoing mission, the Artemis II astronauts also witnessed a rare solar eclipse, when the Moon passed in front of the Sun. NASA released a photograph of the event, which the White House described as “a view few in human history have ever witnessed.” Back in 1968, Apollo 8’s crew orbited the Moon ten times without landing. Anders’ “Earthrise” captured the imagination of the world and was later included in *Life* magazine’s *100 Photographs That Changed the World* (2003). NASA’s Artemis programme aims to return humans to the lunar surface for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972, establishing a long-term presence and laying the foundation for future crewed missions to Mars.