Astronauts Witnessed 1st-Ever Solar Eclipse from Space During Artemis II Mission

Astronauts aboard NASA’s Artemis II mission made history as they became the first humans to observe a solar eclipse from space near the Moon, according to NASA.

The rare celestial event began at approximately 8:35 p.m. ET, when the Sun slipped behind the Moon from the perspective of the Orion spacecraft. As the eclipse unfolded, the Moon gradually blocked the Sun’s light, creating a dramatic visual phenomenon for the four-member crew.

To safely observe the event, the astronauts wore specialized eclipse glasses similar to those used during the 2024 total solar eclipse. 

Artemis II is now entering a solar eclipse that will last for about an hour as Orion, the Moon and the Sun align. During this phase, the crew will see the Sun disappear behind a mostly darkened Moon. pic.twitter.com/VHdY5oa7aE

— NASA Artemis (@NASAArtemis) April 7, 2026

These protective lenses were necessary until the Moon fully obscured the Sun.

The eclipse lasted for nearly an hour. During that time, the Moon appeared mostly dark, allowing the astronauts to study the Sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the solar corona. The crew also monitored for brief flashes of light caused by rocky debris impacting the lunar surface.

In addition to the eclipse itself, astronauts had the opportunity to capture images of several planets that became visible during the event, including Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Saturn.

Astronaut Victor Glover described the scene moments before totality, noting that the Sun had disappeared behind the Moon while the corona remained visible, forming a bright halo.

“The Moon was just hanging in front of us — this black orb,” Glover said, adding that stars and planets were clearly visible in the background.

He characterized the experience as “quite an impressive sight,” underscoring the historic nature of the observation.