Artemis 2 Crew to Witness Rare Solar Eclipse from the Moon

On the evening of April 6, 2024, the crew of the Artemis 2 mission will witness one of the rarest astronomical phenomena—a total solar eclipse from the Moon. This unique event will occur when the Orion spacecraft conducts a flyby of the far side of the Moon, providing four astronauts with the opportunity to observe a spectacle fundamentally different from what can be seen from the surface of our planet.

According to Kelsey Young, head of NASA's science missions division, the proximity to the Moon will make its disk appear significantly larger to the crew than it does to observers on Earth. As a result, the Sun will disappear from the spacecraft's view for approximately 53 minutes. This duration is seven times longer than the maximum length of a total eclipse possible on Earth. The phenomenon is expected to begin at 8:35 PM Eastern Time (12:35 AM Greenwich Mean Time on April 7).

At this moment, Orion will be at a record distance from Earth—406,773 kilometers, which exceeds the legendary Apollo 13 mission's record by 6,400 kilometers, set in 1970. For astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, this eclipse will serve not only as a visual gift but also as an important scientific mission.

NASA has tasked the crew with meticulously describing the features of the solar corona, as the human eye can capture nuances of color and shade that automatic cameras often miss. This observation will provide new data about the Sun, which could be beneficial for future research.

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, similar to how the Apollo 17 crew once discovered orange regolith, which changed the understanding of lunar volcanism. This could open new horizons in understanding the geological history of the Moon.

This rare observation has become possible due to a shift in the mission schedule: the launch was initially planned for February, but due to technical checks on the launch vehicle, the launch took place on April 1. Currently, the Artemis 2 spacecraft is preparing for its return to Earth.

The conclusion of the 10-day mission is scheduled for Friday, April 10, when the capsule will conduct a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego. This mission is a significant milestone in NASA's program aimed at returning humans to the Moon and further exploring space.