NASA presented the preliminary lunar science results of Artemis II on 7 October 2026 at the International Astronautical Congress in Antalya, Türkiye, and opened more than 800 GB of mission data to researchers worldwide. During the April flyby the four astronauts spent about seven hours at Orion’s windows and passed 6,545 km (4,067 miles) above the lunar surface at closest approach. While the Moon blocked the Sun for 54 minutes, they spotted five faint flashes from rocks no bigger than about 5 cm striking the surface some 74,000 km away — probably the faintest impact flashes ever seen with the naked eye. The crew also reported subtle colours, from brown and tan to green and blue, that can hint at different rocks and minerals. NASA now plans Artemis III as an Earth-orbit docking test in 2027 and a crewed landing near the lunar south pole with Artemis IV in 2028. Our take: trained human eyes still catch what cameras miss — good news for the geologists who will walk the south pole.
5impact flashes seen by eye
54 minSun hidden by the Moon