Space3 min(s) read
Published 16:12 06 Apr 2026 GMT
Here's why new Artemis II photo of Earth looks completely different to previous images
A photo taken by the crew of Artemis II as it orbits Earth looks significantly different to past images of the planet we've seen.
And there's a reason why.
The Artemis II mission is currently on a flyby mission past the Moon and back to Earth; the first time a manned space shuttle will have exceeded Earth's low orbit since 1972.
One of the most recent finds from the mission is a picture taken of Earth from high above, and some people are finding differences in past photos.
Why the Artemis II photo of Earth looks so different
The space ship currently on track to fly past the Moon is equipped with 32 cameras and devices - 15 mounted onto it and 17 handheld by the crew.
The astronauts on board even have smartphones with them, capturing snaps on an iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Many people have commented that the picture of the Earth - taken in 2026 by the crew of Artemis II - looks much more "washed out" and dimmer than the previous images we've seen, such as one in 1972 from the last manned mission to the Moon.
But someone has an explanation.
Columbia-based photographer Javier de la Cuadra says it's all to do with what part of the Earth was photographed in that specific moment.
"On the side of the Earth we see in that photo, it's nighttime; if you zoom in, you can see the glow of nighttime lighting," he explained.
"But how, if it's nighttime, can it look like daytime? Because the photo was taken with a super high ISO of 51200! ISO is the sensor's sensitivity to light. With most digital cameras, at ISOs over 6400, the noise is so much that the photo looks practically unreadable."
De la Cuarda continued: "The most magical thing about this photo — even more than the northern lights — is how you can see the sunlight, which is on the other side of the Earth, illuminating our atmosphere.
"That's pure magic, because that atmosphere has a composition that's perfect down to the millimeter to allow life, as we know it, to be possible. This photo is a precious gift to humanity."
Why is the Artemis II image of the Earth so important?
This image isn't just for posterity - some experts argue that seeing the Earth like this, from so far away, could give some much-needed train for thought on current political events.
"When you see all the strife and the things that are going on in the world today, I think it’s really important to see us as a whole," NASA Orion capsule image integration lead David Melendrez told National Geographic.
"You look at that picture - there's no borders in that picture, it's just all of us. I think that's one of the biggest things we can take out of this, is reminding everybody, everybody, that that's our home. And we all have to share it."
"You look at that picture - there's no borders in that picture, it's just all of us. I think that's one of the biggest things we can take out of this, is reminding everybody, everybody, that that's our home. And we all have to share it."