On October 7, 2026, NASA published a preliminary overview of Artemis II’s lunar science observations from its April flyby. The crew reported five extremely faint flashes while Orion was about 46,000 miles from the Moon; NASA says its science team ruled out other possible sources, including cosmic rays and reflections from the spacecraft, and confirmed the sightings.
Five faint flashes reported near the Moon
The crew saw the pinprick-like flashes during a planned communications blackout on the lunar far side. Based on their brightness, NASA scientists estimated that the incoming rocks were no more than a couple of inches wide and were traveling thousands of miles per hour.
The observations could help researchers study how often small objects hit the Moon. NASA’s overview does not give a measured impact rate. The account remains preliminary, with the crew’s observations forming part of a record for further study.
What the crew saw in lunar colors
The crew described subtle gray, black, brown, tan, white, green and blue hues on the Moon. NASA associates blue areas with titanium-rich volcanic rocks, brown with varying iron levels, and green with glass formed by volcanic eruptions or asteroid impacts. These are preliminary interpretations of the colors the crew reported.
Lighting and viewing angle affect how lunar color, brightness, contrast and apparent texture look. NASA says researchers can compare crew observations and handheld-camera images with data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to study those effects.
How the lunar terminator reveals terrain
The lunar terminator is the moving boundary between day and night. There, sunlight strikes the surface at a low angle, casting long shadows that make the shapes and relief of craters and other terrain easier to see. NASA says the lighting resembled conditions near the Moon’s South Pole.
These observations may help NASA plan future lunar imaging, including camera selection, where to aim, and how much detail images need to capture.
The eclipse and Earth image from Orion
The crew watched the Sun pass behind the Moon for 54 minutes from Orion. NASA says the eclipse gave them an opportunity to observe the solar corona, impact flashes, Mars, Saturn, galaxies, stars and zodiacal light—the faint glow from sunlight scattered by dust in the Solar System.
A crew member photographed Earth on April 2, 2026, from about 6,000 miles away. NASA says moonlight illuminated the scene; later analysis identified weather systems, auroras at both poles, atmospheric layers, Saharan dust, zodiacal light and Venus in the image.
NASA’s preliminary science record brings together photographs, spoken observations, drawings and annotations for continued study.
