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Artemis II astronauts capture stunning Earth views
4 Apr
Summary
- Artemis II mission astronauts shared new images of Earth.
- Photos reveal auroras, zodiacal light, and airglow.
- The mission echoes the iconic 50-year-old 'Big Blue Marble' photo.
The Artemis II mission is offering breathtaking new perspectives of Earth from space, more than five decades after the original 'Big Blue Marble' photograph was taken. The four-astronaut crew aboard the spacecraft has shared stunning images that highlight the planet's fragile beauty.
These newly released photos reveal intricate details of Earth, including visible auroras in the upper right and lower left, along with zodiacal light and airglow from the atmosphere. Astronauts on the mission have expressed awe, with one noting how great Earth looks from their vantage point.
Another striking image presents Earth bisected, showing the illuminated side lit by the sun and the shadowed side. The mission's pilot described the views as "amazing" and "beautiful." Intriguing details also emerge from images showing parts of the spacecraft itself, specifically the Orion service module.
