Artemis II Captures Stunning Earth Photos for Earth Day 2026

On Earth Day 2026, NASA released breathtaking fresh images of our planet captured by the Artemis II astronauts during their historic mission around the Moon. These photos, taken just days before the global celebration, offer a powerful reminder of Earth’s fragility and beauty from the unique vantage point of deep space.

The Artemis II mission, which launched on April 1, 2026, marked the first crewed journey to the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972. During their flight, the four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft “Integrity” captured a series of extraordinary photographs of Earth as it receded into the distance.

One particularly striking image, nicknamed “Hello, World,” shows Earth hanging in the blackness of space after the crew completed their translunar injection burn — the maneuver that sent them on course toward the Moon. As noted by Space.com, the photo was taken as the astronauts looked back at their home planet growing smaller in the distance.

According to AccuWeather, on April 6, 2026, the Artemis II crew recorded Earth setting beyond the Moon’s horizon during a historic flyby, achieving a record human spaceflight distance of 252,756 miles from Earth — the farthest humans have ever traveled.

NASA’s Science division highlighted that shortly before Earth disappeared behind the Moon from Orion’s perspective — resulting in a 40-minute loss of radio contact with mission control — the crew captured a stunning image of Earth setting over the lunar surface. This photo draws a direct visual and emotional connection to the iconic “Earthrise” image taken by Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders in 1968 during the first human journey around the Moon.

As the spacecraft flew over the Moon’s far side, the astronauts photographed and described terrain features including impact craters, ancient lava flows and surface fractures formed over billions of years. They also noted variations in color, brightness, and texture, which help scientists study the Moon’s composition and geological history.

The images have been made available to the public through NASA’s Earth Day 2026 poster and virtual background collection, allowing people worldwide to use the photos as digital backgrounds or printable artwork in celebration of the planet.

These visuals come at the conclusion of a mission that not only tested deep space capabilities but also renewed humanity’s perspective on Earth — reinforcing the core message of Earth Day: to protect and cherish the only home we have.