April 22, 2026
Earth Day 2026
On April 6, 2026, the Artemis II crew captured this stunning image of the Earth sinking into the Moon’s surface, just before Orion saw the Earth slip into the far side of the Moon and the spacecraft lost Mission Control’s radio signal for 40 minutes. This photo is reminiscent of the iconic 1968 Earthrise image taken by Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders during humanity’s first trip around the moon. The astronauts flew over the far side of the moon, photographing and describing topographical features such as impact craters, ancient lava flows, and surface cracks and ridges that formed as the moon slowly evolved. They also noted differences in color, brightness, and texture, which provide clues that can help scientists understand the composition and history of the moon’s surface. The image has been slightly sharpened to match the poster format.
Download Earthrise Poster
2026 Earth Day Poster (print resolution, CMYK)
Earth Day 2026 poster (low resolution, 508 compliant)
Earth Day 2026 Poster (Print resolution, CMYK)
Earth Day 2026 Poster (low resolution, 508 compatible)
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The journey starts here
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Earth seen from lunar orbit
On April 6, 2026, just before the Earth slides into the far side of the Moon.
View of Orion, and the spacecraft lost the mission’s radio signal
After 40 minutes of control, the Artemis II crew captured this stunning image.
Earth sinking into the moon. The photo reminds us of the iconic
Images from Earthrise, 1968. Photograph taken by Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders during man’s first trip around the moon. -
Apollo 8
This is the original “Earthrise” image taken on December 24, 1968, while the Apollo 8 crew was in orbit around the Moon. The image of Earth as a distant world above the moon’s horizon is credited with being the inspiration for the first-ever Earth Day in 1970. Earth,” Apollo 8 command module pilot Jim Lovell said that night, broadcast live from space.
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Apollo 17
Almost the entire African coastline, along with the Arabian Peninsula, is clearly visible in this breathtaking view of Earth, taken on December 7, 1972, during Apollo 17’s trip to the moon. This is the first time astronauts have been able to photograph the Antarctic ice cap.
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Artemis II
This photo of Earth at night was taken by the Artemis II crew on April 2, 2026, pointing their camera through the window of the Orion spacecraft. This image was taken after Orion completed its translunar injection burn, a critical maneuver that puts it on orbit past the Moon and back to the Moon. Africa can be seen to the left, while a translucent cone of light, capped by bright Venus, extends into space from the lower right edge of the Earth.
landsat
More to celebrate
NASA’s online interactive “Your Name in Landsat” allows users to enter their name and view and export a graphic of that name spelled out on Earth features in a Landsat image.
Find your name on Landsat
Earth science at NASA
NASA is an exploration agency, and one of our missions is to learn about our homeland. For more than 60 years, NASA has developed cutting-edge sensors and technologies to understand how Earth works for the benefit of humanity and to gain the insights needed to explore other moons and planets. NASA’s Earth Sciences Division operates more than 20 satellites in orbit, sponsors hundreds of research projects and studies, and funds opportunities to use data to meet society’s needs. We are developing new ways to observe the ocean, ice, atmosphere, life, and land cover. NASA’s study of Earth’s surface has led to innovations in monitoring crops, forests, and water resources. Responding to dangers such as wildfires and landslides. and to observe how the Earth’s landscape is changing.
Working with industry leaders, international partners, academic institutions, and other data users, we deliver the science that drives innovation and supports decisions that benefit the nation and the world.
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