The Artemis II mission crew is making historical past nearly by the minute, and because it prepares for its flight path across the moon, the Orion spaceship has been sharing some pictures, together with a facet of the moon people have by no means seen instantly earlier than.
The picture, at present posted on social media however more likely to be added to the NASA multimedia library quickly, is of a moon we each know and, properly, one we do not.
This gorgeous picture arrives only a day after Artemis II astronauts delivered the first-ever iPhone space photos — taken with the selfie camera, no less.
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Make new friends, but keep the old.A new photo captures the Moon’s near side on the right (the side we see from Earth, identifiable by its dark splotches) and its far side on the left. The Artemis II crew are the first to see the far side with human eyes. pic.twitter.com/Z8QaZ6J9iAApril 6, 2026
At first look, you would possibly say, “Yup, that is the moon I do know.” However even an off-the-cuff viewer is aware of one thing’s not fairly proper. Because the NASA publish explains, the best facet of the picture faces Earth, and the left facet is one thing no human has seen with their very own eyes earlier than.
Earlier Apollo missions have been really too near the Moon to get this view (158 miles in 1970). The Artemis Crew will fly about 4,070 miles above the floor, giving them a full view of Earth’s lone pure satellite tv for pc.
I’ve spent years photographing the moon with numerous digital cameras, particularly a pair of Sony Alphas. First, I used the NEX-5 with a 150MM lens. Then I upgraded to my Sony Alpha A6000 and a 200MM lens backed by a 24MP sensor.
Look carefully and see the Moon anew
Picture 1 of two
NASA partial darkside view(Picture credit score: NASA)Moon picture creator took in 2020(Picture credit score: Lance Ulanoff)
I wished to grasp simply how completely different our view is from that captured by NASA and the Artemis crew on Monday, April 6.
As you may see within the side-by-side picture above, which I created in Photoshop 2026, the variations are stark.
On the left is Orion’s picture, which I solely adjusted for brightness. On the best is a photograph I took with the Sony Alpha A6000 in 2020.
In my picture on the best, you may see the signature darkish patches, which, from the bottom, typically resolve into “the person on the moon”, a stunned face that claims, “How did I get right here?”
What to learn subsequent
Towards the left facet of my picture is a vibrant spot, doubtless a meteor strike. Should you use that as some extent of reference after which take a look at the Artemis II mission picture on the left, you may see that the intense spot is now within the higher proper.
Now, in case your eye goes to the left on the Artemis II mission picture, you shortly notice you are seeing belongings you by no means noticed earlier than,
What strikes me is what appears like an enormous crater within the decrease left quadrant. That is a characteristic we have by no means seen earlier than.
When you have pictures of the moon or have spent quite a lot of time viewing it by means of a telescope, I encourage you to check your views with this picture. It is gorgeous and unforgettable.
What’s even crazier is that the Artemis II crew is simply getting began. What a good time for astronomy, house, and pictures followers.
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