LOOK: NASA's Artemis II Photo Shows Something Scientists Are Still Trying to Explain
The four-person Artemis II crew returned to Earth on Friday, bringing home a vast wealth of research for scientists to explore.
The crew, featuring astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, led a historic 10-day lunar flyby mission around the far side of the moon. And during their journey, they captured thousands of stunning images.
From aboard the Orion spacecraft, the crew witnessed an exceedingly rare sight: a full solar eclipse as the moon passed between the spacecraft and the Sun.
Images captured a glow emanating from around the edges of the moon. Scientists are still working to determine wether the glow comes from interstellar dust or the solar corona.
"And everything under the Sun is in tune," NASA wrote in a social media post. "This image from the eclipse during the Artemis II lunar flyby captures a halo of light around the Moon. Scientists are still investigating if the glow comes from interstellar dust or the solar corona."
And everything under the Sun is in tune
— NASA (@NASA) April 14, 2026
This image from the eclipse during the Artemis II lunar flyby captures a halo of light around the Moon. Scientists are still investigating if the glow comes from interstellar dust or the solar corona. pic.twitter.com/XsEeLdCrjz
After splashing down off the coast of San Diego on Friday evening, the Artemis II crew was transported to Houston's Johnson Space Center. There, they reunited with their families and addressed the public with their first remarks.
"Victor, Christina and Jeremy, we are, we are bonded forever, and no one down here is ever going to know what the four of us just went through," Wiseman, Artemis II's commander, said. "And it was the most special thing that will ever happen in my life."
"This was not easy being 200,000-plus miles away from home," he continued. "Like, before you launch it feels like it's the greatest dream on Earth, and when you're out there, you just want to get back to your families and your friends. It's a special thing to be a human and it's a special thing to be on planet Earth."
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Apr 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published April 14, 2026 at 2:51 PM.