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Astronaut Films Earth Disappearing Behind Moon
20 Apr
Summary
- Astronaut Reid Wiseman filmed a rare Earthset from lunar orbit in April 2026.
- The video captures Earth vanishing behind the Moon's edge, seen from lunar orbit.
- The crew set a human spaceflight distance record at over 252,000 miles from Earth.
Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman has released captivating video of an 'Earthset,' a phenomenon where Earth gradually disappears behind the Moon's horizon. The astronaut captured this rare spectacle on April 6, 2026, while the crew was in lunar orbit.
Filmed with an iPhone and 8x zoom through the Orion capsule window, the footage shows Earth slowly descending behind the lunar limb. Swirling clouds over Australia and Oceania are visible before the planet vanishes. A Moon crater is also prominent in the foreground.
Wiseman described the experience as akin to watching a sunset from the most unfamiliar seat in the universe. This occurred at their farthest point from Earth, approximately 252,756 miles away, establishing a new human spaceflight distance record.
This view had not been witnessed by humans in over 50 years, since the Apollo era. The crew observed it while on the far side of the Moon. They later experienced the complementary 'Earthrise' as their spacecraft continued its journey.
