NASA has released a historic image of Earth disappearing below the lunar horizon, a visual bookend to one of the most influential photographs in human history. The new image, dubbed “Earthset,” was captured by the crew of the Artemis II mission during a record-setting flyby of the Moon, mirroring the perspective of the legendary “Earthrise” photo taken over five decades ago.
The photograph, shared by both NASA and the White House on X, captures the brilliant blue marble of Earth as it dips beyond the desolate, grey edge of the lunar surface. In a statement accompanying the release, the White House described the image as “humanity, from the other side,” noting that it represents the first photo captured by humans from the far side of the Moon.
This milestone comes as part of the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface and establish a sustainable presence on the Moon. The Artemis II crew—comprising US astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Victor Glover, alongside Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen—utilized the Orion capsule to execute the lunar loop, testing critical systems and documenting the journey in unprecedented detail.
A visual echo of Apollo 8
The “Earthset” image is a direct spiritual successor to the “Earthrise” photograph captured in December 1968 by astronaut Bill Anders during the Apollo 8 mission. During that first crewed mission to orbit the Moon, Anders captured the Earth rising over the lunar horizon, a shot that shifted global consciousness by highlighting the fragility and isolation of our home planet.
While “Earthrise” showed the planet appearing over the horizon, “Earthset” captures the opposite movement. This symmetry marks a transition from the early era of space exploration to a new age of lunar habitation. The original 1968 image remains one of the most famous photographs ever taken and was featured in Life magazine’s 2003 collection, 100 Photographs That Changed the World.
The Artemis II crew has spent their mission reporting vivid observations of the lunar surface, providing a modern data set that complements the visual legacy of the Apollo era. Beyond the “Earthset” shot, the crew witnessed a rare solar eclipse as the Moon passed directly in front of the Sun, a sight the White House described as a view “few in human history have ever witnessed.”
The road to a 2028 landing
The lunar flyby is a critical stepping stone in a broader strategic timeline. By orbiting the Moon without landing, the Artemis II crew is validating the life-support systems and navigation capabilities of the Orion spacecraft, ensuring the safety of future crews who will eventually touch down on the surface.
The mission serves as the primary precursor to a planned moon landing in 2028. This upcoming landing will be the first time humans have walked on the lunar surface since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. The program’s goals extend beyond a simple landing, focusing on the exploration of the lunar South Pole—a region believed to contain water ice that could be vital for long-term survival and fuel production.
| Mission | Year | Key Visual Milestone | Primary Objective |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apollo 8 | 1968 | Earthrise | First crewed lunar orbit |
| Artemis II | 2025 | Earthset | Crewed flyby and system validation |
| Artemis III | 2028 (est) | Surface Photography | First crewed lunar landing since 1972 |
Technical challenges of the far side
Capturing images from the far side of the Moon presents unique challenges, primarily regarding communication. As the Moon blocks direct radio signals to Earth, the Orion capsule must rely on sophisticated relay systems to transmit high-resolution data and imagery back to mission control.
For the crew, the experience of the “far side” is as much psychological as it is technical. As they dipped beyond the lunar horizon, the astronauts experienced a total loss of visual contact with Earth, a sensation of isolation that underscores the vast distance involved in deep-space exploration.
The current mission’s success provides NASA with the confidence to move forward with more complex maneuvers, including the deployment of the Gateway—a planned lunar-orbiting outpost that will serve as a communication hub and short-term habitation module for astronauts.
The next confirmed checkpoint for the program is the final integration and testing phase for the Artemis III lander, with NASA expected to provide updated launch windows and crew assignments for the 2028 landing mission in the coming months.
Do you perceive the “Earthset” photo captures the same emotional weight as “Earthrise”? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
