Artemis 2 Crew Shares Breathtaking First Images of Earth From Deep Space

NASA released the first images captured aboard the Artemis II mission Friday, and they're exactly what you'd hope for from astronauts headed toward the moon.

Mission Commander Reid Wiseman snapped the photos using a tablet, giving the world a look at Earth from deep space. One image shows the entire planet from pole to pole, glowing against the darkness. Another captures what NASA is calling a "pale blue dot," seen through the spacecraft's window.

The crew was so moved by the sight that they paused everything, including delaying their first meal, just to take it in. One crew member described the moment as "spectacular," saying they could see continents and even the Northern Lights from where they were.

The mission marks NASA's first crewed journey toward the moon in more than 50 years.