Astronomy Picture of the Day
    


APOD: 2026 April 22 Á Earthset with an iPhone
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Credit & Copyright: Keighley Rockcliffe (NASA GSFC, UMBC CSST, CRESST II)
Explanation: What does it mean for the Earth to set? Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman gave us another spectacular view of Earth from their historic flyby of the Moon. Commander Wiseman's video, taken with an iPhone at 8x zoom, shows our entire planet gradually blocked from view by the Moon. On the Earth, the 24-hour planetary rotation causes the Sun to set below your horizon every night. However, on Artemis II the Earthset was caused not by the MoonÁs rotation but by the spacecraft moving behind the Moon (at about 55 seconds in this video). Once rare, views of Earth are now taken many times a day from many spacecraft, including NASAÁs SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography) satellite tracking freshwater resources and USGS Landsat 8 and 9 satellites supporting water management for farmers, for example. Space agencies around our home planet now work together to provide unique and ever-improving views of our Earth.

Celebrate: Earth Day

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Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.

Based on Astronomy Picture Of the Day

Publications with keywords: Earth - Moon
Publications with words: Earth - Moon
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