Artemis II Astronauts Recreate Iconic 1968 'Earthrise' Photo

Four astronauts just gave humanity a fresh reminder of how precious our home planet really is.

During NASA's Artemis II mission on Monday, the crew captured breathtaking new images of Earth rising and setting behind the moon. The photos echo one of the most powerful images ever taken: the original "Earthrise" photograph snapped by astronaut William Anders during Apollo 8 in 1968.

NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen witnessed the spectacular views as their Orion spacecraft swung around the moon's far side. For about 40 minutes, they lost contact with Houston Ground Control, alone with their thoughts and an unmatched view of home.

When Earth appeared to set behind the lunar surface, much of the eastern hemisphere was visible to the crew. After regaining contact with Houston, Koch shared a moving message: "To Asia, Africa and Oceania: We are looking back at you. We hear you can look up and see the moon right now. We see you too."

Less than an hour later, Earth rose again over the moon's horizon. The crew captured the moment at 7:22 p.m. EDT, creating a modern tribute to Anders' famous shot from 58 years ago.

Why This Inspires

The original "Earthrise" photograph changed how millions of people saw our planet. Floating in the vastness of space, Earth looked fragile and finite. That single image is credited with helping launch the modern environmental movement.

Anders later described Earth as looking like "a fragile Christmas tree ornament." In a 2023 interview, he reflected on that moment with hope and concern. "It's the only home in the universe for us humans," he said. "And it's too bad we don't treat it a little better."

The new images arrive at a moment when we need that perspective. As the Artemis II crew ventures farther into space than any humans before them, they're reminding us that everything we know and love exists on that beautiful blue marble.

These four astronauts are making history, but they're also giving us a gift: a chance to see our home the way they do, precious and worth protecting.