
HOUSTON (AP) — The Artemis II astronauts are now forever intertwined with Apollo 8.
A day after the historic lunar flyaround, NASA on Tuesday released striking new photos taken by the U.S.-Canadian crew.
The four astronauts channeled Apollo 8’s famous Earthrise shot from 1968 with their own: Earthset, showing our planet setting behind the gray, pockmarked moon. Another photo captures the total solar eclipse that occurred when the moon blocked the sun from the crew’s perspective.
The three Americans and one Canadian are now headed home, with a splashdown in the Pacific set for Friday. In the meantime, scientists at Houston's Mission Control are poring over the stream of moon photos beaming down.
Apollo 8's three astronauts became the world's first lunar visitors, orbiting the moon on Christmas Eve 1968. Their Earthrise shot became a symbol of the modern-day environmental movement.
Artemis II marks NASA's first return to the moon with astronauts — a critical step toward a lunar landing by another crew in two years.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
LATEST POSTS
- 1
75% of US adults may meet criteria for obesity under new definition, study finds - 2
'Israel has the right to continue its attacks,' Lebanese Foreign Minister announces - 3
A throat bone settles it - Nanotyrannus was not a juvenile T. rex - 4
Triumph’s Gorgeous, Super-Affordable and Approachable New Street Motos Share a Heart But Not a Soul - 5
Roman around the Christmas tree | Space photo of the day for Dec. 25, 2025
How to identify animal tracks, burrows and other signs of wildlife in your neighborhood
Artemis 2 astronauts head for the moon after make-or-break engine burn (video)
Burkina Faso must 'forget' about democracy, military leader says
Top Music and Dance Celebration: Which One Gets You Going?
Dave Coulier reveals he has tongue cancer, his 2nd diagnosis in a year, after beating non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Track down the Ideal Weight reduction Methodology for Your Way of life
Former school bus aide pleads guilty to assaulting 3 autistic students in Colorado
WHO suspends medical evacuations from Gaza following death of contractor in 'security incident'
Asia's Noteworthy Destinations: A Voyager's Aide












