The Artemis II astronauts have created a lasting connection with Apollo 8 following their recent lunar flyaround. NASA unveiled impressive images taken by the U.S.-Canadian crew just a day after the historic event. Among the photos released is their own version of Apollo 8’s iconic “Earthrise” shot from 1968, titled “Earthset,” which captures the Earth setting behind the moon’s gray, cratered surface.
During the Apollo 8 mission on December 24, 1968, astronaut William Anders famously photographed the original “Earthrise,” which is recognized as the first color photo of Earth from space. This image is widely credited with kickstarting the global environmental movement and contributing to the establishment of Earth Day in 1970, an annual event that advocates for environmental activism and awareness.
Another remarkable photo taken by the Artemis II crew shows a total solar eclipse as seen from their perspective in space when the moon obscured the sun. The crew, consisting of three Americans and one Canadian, is now en route back to Earth, with a planned splashdown in the Pacific scheduled for Friday.
In 1968, Apollo 8’s three astronauts became the world’s first lunar visitors, orbiting the moon on Christmas Eve. Their “Earthrise” photo has since become an emblem of the contemporary environmental movement. The Artemis II mission marks NASA’s initial return to the moon with astronauts, a pivotal stage towards a lunar landing by a different crew in the coming years.
