• Nasa released first images from the Artemis II lunar fly-by.
• Astronauts captured striking Earthset and solar eclipse photos.
• The mission paves the way for a planned Moon landing in 2028.

Nasa has released the first photographs taken by the Artemis II astronauts during their fly-by of the Moon. Among these striking images is an 'Earthset', showing Earth dipping below the lunar horizon, which echoes the famous "Earthrise" photo taken during Apollo 8 in 1968. The second photograph features a solar eclipse as the Moon obscured the Sun, showcasing the breathtaking views the astronauts experienced on their historic journey back home, according to BBC and Channel News Asia.

The crew, consisting of astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen, not only documented these stunning visuals but also reported in vivid detail on various lunar surface features and the solar eclipse that occurred during the fly-by. This mission is part of a larger initiative aimed at preparing for a potential Moon landing in 2028, according to Los Angeles Times and South China Morning Post.

The photographs released highlight the astronauts' unique viewpoint from their Orion capsule, including the historic Earthset, described as providing a view "few in human history have ever witnessed." The astronauts broke the distance record set during Apollo 13, surpassing it by over 6,000 kilometers, reaching a maximum distance of 406,771 kilometers from Earth, according to BBC, Channel News Asia, and South China Morning Post.