Artemis II crew to witness rare 53-minute total solar eclipse from beyond the Moon
This simulation shows a total solar eclipse beyond the Moon, that astronauts will be able to observe on April 6, 2026 (Photo: NASA)
The Artemis II crew will witness one of the rarest astronomical phenomena — a total solar eclipse beyond the Moon — on April 6, NASA’s head of science flights Kelsey Young announced.
While the Orion spacecraft orbits the far side of the satellite, the four astronauts will be able to observe a spectacle fundamentally different from what we see from the surface of our planet.
Due to its proximity to the Moon, its disk will appear significantly larger to the crew than to Earth observers, according to Young. As a result, the Sun will disappear from the spacecraft's view for about 53 minutes. This is seven times longer than the maximum duration of a total eclipse possible on Earth. The phenomenon is expected to begin at 8:35 p.m. EST (12:35 a.m. GMT on April 7).
At this moment, Orion will be at a record distance from Earth — nearly 253,000 miles, surpassing the legendary Apollo 13 mission's record set in 1970 by about 4,000 miles. For Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, this eclipse will not only be a visual treat but also an important scientific mission.
NASA tasked the crew with detailing the features of the solar corona, as the human eye can catch nuances of colors and shades that automatic cameras often miss.
In addition to studying the Sun, the astronauts will pay special attention to the surface of the Moon's far side. Scientists hope that visual observations will help identify new geological features, just as the Apollo 17 crew once noticed orange regolith, which changed the understanding of lunar volcanism.
This rare observation became possible due to a schedule shift: the launch was initially planned for February, but due to technical checks of the launch vehicle, it took place on April 1. The Artemis II spacecraft is preparing for its return.
The conclusion of the 10-day mission is scheduled for April 10, when the capsule will splash down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego.
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