Artemis II Timeline — April 6, 2026 Lunar Flyby
Verified event timeline from NASA mission documentation
Critical Events (All Times EDT)
6:41 PM — Earthset
Earth disappears from view as Orion approaches the lunar farside
6:44 PM — Communication Blackout Begins
Loss of signal as spacecraft moves behind the Moon
7:00 PM — Closest Approach
Orion reaches minimum altitude above lunar surface
7:02 PM — Maximum Distance from Earth
Orion at farthest point from Earth during mission
7:24 PM — Earthrise
Earth reappears over lunar horizon as Orion rounds the farside
8:35 PM — Eclipse Entry
Orion enters Earth's shadow, beginning eclipse phase
Eclipse Totality Duration
Approximately 54 minutes in complete shadow
Observation Progression (Transcript Verified)
Source: Artemis II live broadcast transcript, verified against official recording.
During the lunar flyby, astronauts observed the Moon's nearside illuminated by sunlight reflected from Earth. This observation occurred while Orion was positioned behind the Moon, with Earth serving as the dominant light source for the lunar surface.
This phenomenon was described in real time by the Artemis II crew during the live broadcast. The crew used the scientific term Earthshine early in the sequence, transitioning to descriptive language as the visual conditions intensified.
Terminology
"Earth's glow" — Human descriptive term used during real-time observation
"Earthshine" — Scientific term for the same optical phenomenon
Both terms refer to sunlight reflected from Earth illuminating the Moon
Observational Context
Vantage Point
From Orion's position behind the Moon, Earth was the primary illumination source for the visible lunar surface. This created optimal conditions for observing earth-reflected light as a dominant visual element.
Visual Characteristics
The Moon's nearside appeared faintly illuminated against the darkness of space, with Earth providing the reflected sunlight necessary for surface visibility during this phase of the flyby.
Observational Significance
The crew's real-time verbal descriptions of this phenomenon during the eclipse phase were captured in the Artemis II live broadcast, providing a documented human account of the visual experience from deep space.
Earth-Illuminated Observation Context
NASA's eclipse imagery and mission documentation confirm that the near side of the Moon remained faintly visible due to light reflected from Earth.
This effect, known as Earthshine, became particularly noticeable during the eclipse alignment, when direct sunlight was reduced.
Astronaut observations during this period provided real-time descriptions of this illumination from a deep-space vantage point.