Welcome to the dark side Artemis II crew captures eclipse, Earthrise, far side of moon during lunar flyby By: Photography by NASA Posted: Last Modified:

NASA released new photos Tuesday captured by the Artemis II astronauts.

Read this article for free:


or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Subscribe and receive a limited-edition Free Press branded hat or tote.

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $205*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

NASA released new photos Tuesday captured by the Artemis II astronauts.

Artemis II’s lunar fly-around and intense observation period lasted seven hours.

A total solar eclipse greeted the three Americans and one Canadian as the moon temporarily blocked the sun from their perspective.

Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen takes images through the Orion spacecraft window early in teh Artemis II lunar flyby. (NASA)
Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen takes images through the Orion spacecraft window early in teh Artemis II lunar flyby. (NASA)

Venturing as close as 4,067 miles (6,545 kilometers) to the gray dusty surface, the astronauts zipped through a list of more than two dozen photo targets, using powerful Nikon cameras as well as their iPhones to zoom in on impact craters and other intriguing lunar features.

The U.S.-Canadian crew has now begun their return to Earth. They will splashdown in the Pacific near San Diego on Friday.

With files from The Associated Press

 

 

The moon eclipses the sun as seen from the Artemis II mission lunar flyby on Monday, April 6, 2026. (NASA / The Associated Press)
The moon eclipses the sun as seen from the Artemis II mission lunar flyby on Monday, April 6, 2026. (NASA / The Associated Press)

 

 

From this deep-space vantage point, the moon appeared large enough to sustain nearly 54 minutes of eclipse totality, far longer than total solar eclipses typically seen from Earth. The bright silver glint on the left edge of the image is the planet Venus. (NASA)
From this deep-space vantage point, the moon appeared large enough to sustain nearly 54 minutes of eclipse totality, far longer than total solar eclipses typically seen from Earth. The bright silver glint on the left edge of the image is the planet Venus. (NASA)
The sun begins to peek out from behind the moon as the eclipse transitions out of totality. (NASA / The Associated Press)
The sun begins to peek out from behind the moon as the eclipse transitions out of totality. (NASA / The Associated Press)
The Artemis II crew pose with eclipse viewers. Counterclockwise from top left: Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover. (NASA / The Associated Press)
The Artemis II crew pose with eclipse viewers. Counterclockwise from top left: Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover. (NASA / The Associated Press)
Earth next to the moon before Earthset. (NASA / The Associated Press)
Earth next to the moon before Earthset. (NASA / The Associated Press)
This image was captured at 6:41 p.m. EDT, on April 6, 2026, just three minutes before the Orion spacecraft and its crew went behind the Moon and lost contact with Earth for 40 minutes before emerging on the other side. (NASA)
This image was captured at 6:41 p.m. EDT, on April 6, 2026, just three minutes before the Orion spacecraft and its crew went behind the Moon and lost contact with Earth for 40 minutes before emerging on the other side. (NASA)
Earthset captured through the Orion spacecraft window. The dark portion of Earth is experiencing nighttime. On Earth’s day side, swirling clouds are visible over Australia and Oceania. (NASA / The Associated Press)
Earthset captured through the Orion spacecraft window. The dark portion of Earth is experiencing nighttime. On Earth’s day side, swirling clouds are visible over Australia and Oceania. (NASA / The Associated Press)
Another view of Earthset. (NASA)
Another view of Earthset. (NASA)
The near side of the moon (the hemisphere we see from Earth) is visible at the top half of the disk, identifiable by the dark splotches that are ancient lava flows. At the lower center is Orientale basin, a nearly 600-mile-wide crater that straddles the Moon’s near and far sides. Everything below the crater is the far side, not visible from Earth. (NASA / The Associated Press)
The near side of the moon (the hemisphere we see from Earth) is visible at the top half of the disk, identifiable by the dark splotches that are ancient lava flows. At the lower center is Orientale basin, a nearly 600-mile-wide crater that straddles the Moon’s near and far sides. Everything below the crater is the far side, not visible from Earth. (NASA / The Associated Press)
The Orientale basin has a black patch of ancient lava in the center that punched through the Moon’s crust in an eruption billions of years ago. (NASA)
The Orientale basin has a black patch of ancient lava in the center that punched through the Moon’s crust in an eruption billions of years ago. (NASA)
Vavilov Crater on the rim of the older and larger Hertzsprung basin. (NASA / The Associated Press)
Vavilov Crater on the rim of the older and larger Hertzsprung basin. (NASA / The Associated Press)
Part of the moon comes into view along the terminator -- the boundary between lunar day and night. (NASA / The Associated Press)
Part of the moon comes into view along the terminator -- the boundary between lunar day and night. (NASA / The Associated Press)
Earthrise captured through the Orion spacecraft window at 7:22 p.m. ET during the Artemis II crew’s flyby of the moon’s far side. (NASA)
Earthrise captured through the Orion spacecraft window at 7:22 p.m. ET during the Artemis II crew’s flyby of the moon’s far side. (NASA)

Related Articles

Artemis II astronauts channel Apollo 8 with a striking Earthset photo
In this image provided by NASA, The Artemis II crew captured this view of an Earthset on Monday, April 6, 2026, as they flew around the Moon. (NASA via AP)
Artemis II breaks Apollo 13’s distance record with daring moon flyby that included a solar eclipse
This image provided by NASA on Monday, April 6, 2026, shows a view of the moon taken by the Artemis II crew before going to sleep on flight day 5. (NASA via AP)
Jeremy Hansen challenges future generations to break new Artemis record
Artemis II astronaut Jeremy Hansen, of Canada, connects live from the Orion spacecraft and speaks with Canadian media along with NASA astronauts Victor Glover, left, and Reid Wiseman in a Saturday, April 4, 2026, handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP — Handout, Canadian Space Agency (Mandatory Credit)
It's time for Artemis II to break Apollo 13's distance record. What to know about the moon flyby
This image provided by NASA, astronaut and Artemis II mission specialist Christina Koch peers out of one of the Orion spacecraft's main cabin windows, looking back at Earth, as the crew travels towards the Moon on Thursday, April 2, 2026. (NASA via AP)
Artemis astronauts field more final frontier questions from Canadian kids
In this image from video provided by NASA, Artemis II astronauts, from left, Reid Wiseman, Jeremy Hansen, Christina Koch and Victor Glover gather for an interview en route to the moon on Saturday, April 4, 2026. (NASA via AP)
Artemis II toilet acts up again as astronauts speed toward the moon to break Apollo 13's record
This image from video provided by NASA shows a view of earth taken by NASA astronaut and Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman from one of the Orion spacecraft's four windows after completing the translunar injection burn, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (NASA via AP)
Canada's Jeremy Hansen rockets toward the moon with Artemis II after engine burn
Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen of Canada and pilot Victor Glover wave to family members as they leave the Operations and Checkout Building for a trip to Launch Pad 39-B and a planned liftoff on NASA's Artemis II moon rocket at the Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Canada's Artemis II astronaut gives thumbs-up to 'Project Hail Mary' starring Canadian Ryan Gosling
This image from video provided by NASA shows the Artemis II crew, from left, Canadian astronaut and mission specialist Jeremy Hansen, Commander Reid Wiseman, mission specialist Christina Koch and pilot Victor Glover as they speak with NASA Mission Control in a video conference while en route to the moon, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (NASA via AP) CORRECTION: headed to the moon, not in moon's orbit
‘Payoff day’: Jenni Gibbons on watching Artemis II crew make lunar history
3 Canadian Space Division C.W.O. Jamie Marshall, left to right, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Col. Joshua Kutryk, CSA astronaut Jenni Gibbons, 3 CSD commander Brig.-Gen. Christopher Horner, CSA astronaut Col. Jeremy Hansen and capsule communicator Capt. Erin Edwards pose for a group photo during a visit at NASA's Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas, in a Jan. 7, 2025 handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - NASA, James Blair (Mandatory Credit)
Artemis II astronauts make long-distance call to the space station as they head home from the moon
In this image provided by NASA, Artemis II crew members, from left, Victor Glover Jeremy Hansen, Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch, pause to turn the camera around for a selfie midway through their lunar observation period of the Moon during a lunar flyby, Monday, April 6, 2026. NASA via AP)
Carney praises Hansen, calls hearing French from space a point of pride
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, speaks to Artemis II mission astronauts, left to right, Christina Koch, Jeremy Hansen, Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover during a live feed at the Canadian Space Agency headquarters in Longueuil, Que., Wednesday, April 8, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Artemis II astronauts describe their lunar voyage as surreal and profound ahead of Earth return
This image provided by NASA, the Artemis II crew captured this view the Moon and Earth are shown on Monday, April 6, 2026. (NASA via AP)
Artemis II astronauts return from moon with a splashdown to close out a record-breaking lunar voyage
In this image from video provided by NASA, the Artemis II Orion capsule splashes down in the Pacific Ocean, on Friday, April 10, 2026. (NASA via AP)
Moon mission Earth photo could change your worldview
This image provided by NASA shows a downlink image of Earth taken by NASA’s Artemis II astronaut commander Reid Wiseman inside the Orion capsule on Friday, April 3, 2026. (NASA via AP)
'Extraordinary': Back on Earth, Jeremy Hansen describes his long journey in space
Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, a member of the NASA's Artemis II crew, listens to a question during a press conference on Thursday, April 16, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Report Error Submit a Tip

More Stories

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Premier Wab Kinew speaks at last week’s net-zero action plan announcement at Southwood Circle.

Nothing wrong with planting trees, but it won’t get province very far on path to net zero

Dan Lett 5 minute read Preview

Nothing wrong with planting trees, but it won’t get province very far on path to net zero

Dan Lett 5 minute read Yesterday at 2:39 PM CDT

Manitoba’s new plan to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 is a lot of things. It’s detailed. It’s certainly comprehensive in scope. But when it is all said and done, it is still very much a work in progress.

Read
Yesterday at 2:39 PM CDT

Don’t deny kids a bedtime bond with Gran

Maureen Scurfield 5 minute read Yesterday at 2:00 AM CDT

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: My mother is coming to visit and our little kids want her to sleep in their bedroom, where there’s a double bed and a single. My husband thinks this idea is ridiculous and says grandma needs her sleep, but I disagree.

I remember sleeping with my grandma — who’s now with the angels — and she told us grandkids (two girls) some wonderful bedtime stories she made up herself. She even put our names into them, making us the stars of the stories.

The best part was getting into our pyjamas with our grandmother, who showed us the magic cord from the little thing that ran from her near-deaf ear down to the secret battery pocket hidden in the bra of her slip. It made her hear us better in the daytime. We thought, “Wow!”

Not surprisingly my own mother has inherited her mom’s fantastic storytelling talent and who knows what else she has to teach the kids when she’s alone with them? I want them to be close.

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Jenna Priestner, co-owner of Sidestage at 700 Osborne St., and a musician in Mobina Galore. Sidestage doesn’t use AI, and a recent hand-drawn poster Priestner made for a karaoke event got a lot of buzz for its anti-AI caption on social media.

Winnipeg venues saying no to AI-made advertisements

Sheldon Birnie 8 minute read Preview

Winnipeg venues saying no to AI-made advertisements

Sheldon Birnie 8 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 10:22 AM CDT

Although the days when telephone poles and notice boards across the city were thick with gig posters, either slopped up with wheat paste or wrapped tight with packing tape, are behind us, the art of making an appealing visual ad for live music events is still a vital part of the local creative scene.

However, a widespread backlash against a new kind of slop — the use of generative AI images — has been building, especially among creatives when it comes to promoting live music.

“Live music is and always has been a DIY type of scene, especially locally,” says Evan Simpson, who has been working as a graphic designer for nearly a decade.

“For years people have been making their own flyers, or if they have the budget, hiring a designer or artist to come up with some artwork for their flyers. It’s a whole ecosystem, a scene supporting itself. If you take away the visual side of it, the spark, individuality and uniqueness of each gig poster is lost. What a sad world it would be if all art were made by AI.”

Read
Updated: Yesterday at 10:22 AM CDT
Winnipeg police at the scene following a police pursuit near Broadway and Langside Street Friday afternoon. (Mike Deal / Free Press)

‘Didn’t realize how close I was’ to getting hit, pedestrian says

Scott Billeck 5 minute read Preview

‘Didn’t realize how close I was’ to getting hit, pedestrian says

Scott Billeck 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 3:18 PM CDT

A West Broadway pedestrian says it was like a scene straight out of the movies as he narrowly avoided being plowed into during a midday police pursuit.

Adam Orbanski was crossing Langside Street along Broadway Friday and had just made it to the curb when a vehicle slammed into another metres away from him.

“It’s pretty crazy,” Orbanski said Monday after viewing security footage of the incident captured by a nearby business. “I didn’t realize how close I was, I guess, until my friend sent me the security footage. I’m lucky to be alive.”

Orbanski said he was walking home from work when he began to hear sirens. As he crossed Langside, he could see one vehicle approaching him quickly.

Read
Updated: Yesterday at 3:18 PM CDT
FACEBOOK Moses Campeau, 21, died in an animal attack in Sapotaweyak Cree Nation last week.

Man, 21, killed in animal attack on Manitoba First Nation

Chris Kitching 5 minute read Preview

Man, 21, killed in animal attack on Manitoba First Nation

Chris Kitching 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 8:18 PM CDT

The family of “a kind and gentle giant” is grief-stricken as officials try to determine what kind of animal killed the 21-year-old man in western Manitoba.

Moses Campeau was walking on a road to a friend’s house in Sapotaweyak Cree Nation, about 600 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, when he was fatally injured Sept. 9, his mother, Paula Campeau, said Monday.

“Moses was a kind and gentle giant,” she said. “He was a person who (people) would ask to come and help them, and he would go without even hesitating.”

Manitoba RCMP said officers from the Swan River detachment responded to a report of a suspicious death at about 3:10 a.m. The scene was held and the RCMP’s major crime services took over the investigation.

Read
Updated: Yesterday at 8:18 PM CDT
Mike Sudoma / Free Press Mayoral Candidate Kevin Klein told the Amalgamated Transit Union’s debate it’s time for full safety shields.

Transit safety drives first mayoral debate

Morgan Modjeski 4 minute read Preview

Transit safety drives first mayoral debate

Morgan Modjeski 4 minute read 2:01 AM CDT

The safety of Winnipeg Transit drivers was front and centre Monday as the first mayoral debate of the 2026 election focused on public transit.

Kevin Klein, the most experienced of the 10 candidates at the Amalgamated Transit Union 1505-hosted debate, said the time for partial safety shields has passed.

“The partial shields have failed drivers. That’s why we need change,” the former PC MLA and city councillor said, adding driver safety is not a staffing issue, but a “protection failure.”

If elected, Klein said he will bring in full-shield implementation across the city within two years and start a nine-bus pilot project immediately.

Read
2:01 AM CDT