The Artemis 2 astronauts experienced a rare solar eclipse lasting 53 minutes, from the perspective of the Orion capsule.

On April 6, the Orion spacecraft flew over the far side of the Moon, providing the crew with a unique experience: a total solar eclipse that lasted approximately 53 minutes. This duration exceeds the maximum period of totality observed from Earth. NASA astronaut Victor Glover described the moment as 'sci-fi' and 'unreal', noting how the Sun was completely blocked by the Moon, and the solar corona was visible, creating a bright halo.

As darkness set in, the Earthshine appeared, visible through the hardware, offering a rare view of the light reflected by Earth. Although this is not the first time a solar eclipse has been observed from lunar regions, the Artemis 2 mission, which tests the life support systems of the Orion capsule, paves the way for the upcoming Artemis 3 mission, which will include landing at the Moon's South Pole. NASA recently released a historic image of Earth hidden behind the Moon, evoking the famous 'Earthrise' image captured by Apollo 8.