Artemis II crew captures rare double auroras on Earth's dark side during moon mission
By
Jamie Carter
Crisp on the outside, thoughtful on the inside. A keeper.
Summary
The Artemis II crew captured a stunning photo of Earth from orbit showing rare double auroras (northern and southern lights simultaneously) on the dark side of the planet, illuminated by moonlight. The image was taken on April 2, 2026, as the four astronauts began their historic journey to the moon. The photo reveals both auroral ovals glowing green around Earth's poles, a phenomenon rarely seen together in a single shot. The article describes the visual details of the image and the significance of capturing both auroras simultaneously from space.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledThe four astronauts on NASA's Artemis II mission captured more than they bargained for when they photographed the nightside of Earth, right after starting their historic journey to the moon.
The image reveals both auroral ovals glowing green around Earth's poles, a phenomenon rarely seen together in a single shot.
Earth as seen by the departing crew of Artemis II on April 2, 2026.
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