For the first time in more than half a century, astronauts went around the Moon, came home, and then handed Earth a camera roll.

The newly released Artemis photo dump is no polished coffee-table book. In fact, the website where NASA released the images barely works. But among the many thousands of photos, some gems shine. Some photos are spectacular: close lunar views, Earth hanging over the Moon, a solar eclipse, and the now-famous “Earthset” images. Most others… not so much. Below, you can see a selection that ZME Science likes.

The 12,000 new images — shot with Nikon D5 SLR cameras, Nikon Z9 mirrorless cameras, and iPhone 17 cameras — come from the 10-day mission that sent Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen around the Moon aboard Orion. Artemis II did not land. It was a test flight, meant to prove that NASA’s big rocket, spacecraft, life-support systems, navigation, and crew operations could work with humans on board.

The Moon’s Orientale Basin, one of the big-ticket targets for the Artemis II science team. Credit: NASA
Half a Moon, seen through Orion’s window, complete with a few spacecraft-made artifacts (the lens glare). Credit: NASA A sliver of sunlight breaks from behind the Moon during the April 7, 2026, eclipse seen by the Artemis II crew. Credit: NASA The Milky Way, seen from the dark between worlds. Credit: NASA. Hertzsprung Basin and Vavilov Crater, caught in the stark light of lunar orbit. Credit: NASA. Earth and Moon share the window as Orion carries humans through deep space. Credit: NASA. Dark lava plains mark the Moon’s surface, set against brighter, lighter crust. Credit: NASA Earth slips behind the Moon on April 6, 2026, as seen from a camera mounted on Orion during Artemis II’s far-side flyby. Credit: NASA Earth, seen through the window of NASA’s Orion spacecraft, Integrity. Credit: NASA. Earth falls away on April 2, 2026, as the Artemis II crew begins the long coast toward the Moon. Credit: NASA Clouds catch the light along Earth’s day-night boundary. Credit: NASA. Long shadows stretch from lunar craters along the Moon’s day-night line. Credit: NASA. An astronaut looks out from Orion, with deep space filling the window. Credit: NASA. Earth comes back into view as Artemis II rounds the Moon’s far side. Credit: NASA. Earth drops behind the Moon’s horizon, a small blue world slipping out of sight. Credit: NASA. Earth slips out of view behind the Moon. Credit: NASA. Earth rises again from behind the Moon, as seen by the Artemis II crew. Credit: NASA. An external camera captures the eclipse with part of Orion in frame. Credit: NASA. Stargazing from Orion, with the window turning deep space into a front-row seat. Credit: NASA. Sunlight flares around the Moon during the eclipse seen by the Artemis II crew. Credit: NASA.