Artemis II Crew Captures Unprecedented Solar Eclipse Images During Lunar Flyby

On April 6, 2026, the Artemis II crew experienced a 54-minute total solar eclipse while orbiting the Moon in the Orion spacecraft, a duration far exceeding typical Earth-based eclipses. The astronauts captured unique photographs using both a Nikon Z9 mirrorless camera and a Nikon D5, with the Z9 specifically positioned at window one for eclipse documentation. Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover used NASA-produced eclipse viewers to safely observe the event, marking the first use of such glasses at the Moon. One image reveals the Sun's corona forming a glowing halo around the dark lunar disk, with stars visible and the Moon's nearside faintly illuminated by Earthshine. Another photograph shows Venus as a silver glint in the background during totality, captured at ISO 40000 to demonstrate the D5's high ISO capabilities. The crew had broken Apollo 13's distance record, traveling nearly 253,000 miles from Earth and passing within 4,070 miles of the lunar surface. NASA notes this vantage point provides valuable scientific data on the Sun's outer atmosphere during humanity's return to deep space. Scientists will analyze the data extensively, while the public enjoys these unprecedented visual records.