Artemis II crew see first glimpse of far side of Moon [video]
Nasa's Artemis II crew has offered humanity its first direct glimpse of the Moon's far side, providing a unique perspective on our celestial neighbor. This milestone reignites the age-old fascination with space exploration and the Moon, a perennial favorite topic on Hacker News. The discussion quickly debunks common lunar myths and celebrates the awe of human achievement in space.
The Lowdown
The Artemis II crew, comprising Nasa astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, has provided the first human eyewitness account and visual of the Moon's far side. This historic moment occurred during their third day on the Orion spacecraft, which is circumnavigating the Moon.
- Astronaut Christina Koch remarked on the distinct appearance of the far side, noting, "Something about you senses that is not the Moon that I'm used to seeing."
- The crew captured and shared a photograph of the Moon's Orientale basin, described by Nasa as the first time this entire basin has been observed by human eyes.
- At the time of the report, the Artemis II spacecraft was more than 180,000 miles (289,681km) from Earth.
This visual milestone from Artemis II underscores the ongoing human quest for exploration and offers a fresh perspective on a familiar yet often unseen part of our Moon.
The Gossip
Lunar Lexicon Clarifications
Commenters swiftly corrected the common misconception that the Moon's "far side" is synonymous with its "dark side," emphasizing that both sides receive sunlight. The discussion clarified that while the far side is always facing away from Earth, it is illuminated as the Moon orbits the Earth and Sun, much like the near side. Some added nuance that the "dark side" could be an approximate truth if the Moon was full.
Awe vs. Astronautical Apathy
Some users expressed a sense of familiarity or mild disappointment, suggesting the far side "just looks like the Moon" without context. Others countered, highlighting the profound significance of human eyes witnessing this view for the first time, arguing that such achievements should still inspire wonder despite prior robotic imagery or a perceived desensitization to space news.
Pop Culture & Planetary Puns
A humorous thread emerged, with one commenter expressing mock disappointment if the mission didn't include Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" as a soundtrack, playfully linking the mission to iconic cultural references.