The Artemis II crew has shared breathtaking images from its lunar flyby mission, including a historic solar eclipse viewed from the far side of the Moon. Pilot Victor Glover described the moment as the mission’s “greatest gift.” Surprisingly, this unprecedented sight was recorded using a 12-year-old GoPro Hero4 Black action camera.
The Unprecedented Solar Eclipse View
On April 6, 2026, NASA released the image titled “Eclipsed: A View from Orion.” It depicts the Moon backlit by the Sun during the eclipse, with the Orion spacecraft visible in the foreground on the left. Key details include a bright spot below the Moon’s bottom right edge identified as Saturn and another at the right edge as Mars.
A stitched video from Orion’s solar array wing cameras further captures the Sun disappearing behind the Moon, revealing a glowing halo around the lunar disk.
Camera Gear and Settings Revealed
EXIF data confirms the GoPro Hero4 Black, launched in 2014 and now discontinued, was used. This model introduced ProTune manual controls, enabling features like slow shutter speeds, Bluetooth, and WiFi.
Specific settings included manual white balance, auto exposure, ISO 800, and a 5-second exposure time. The Hero4 Black joins other unexpected gear choices, such as the Lumix GH5 for takeoff shots, a decade-old Nikon D5 DSLR for the Earthset image, and iPhone 17s for Earth selfies.
Mission Gear Choices Spark Interest
These selections continue to intrigue observers, given the mission’s advanced nature. Additional Hero4 Black images highlight four key moments shared publicly. Crew members are expected to address equipment decisions upon their return, with more stunning visuals anticipated from the ongoing mission.
