Dark Craters, Bright Views

art002e009627 (April 6, 2026) – During the first shift of the lunar flyby observation period, the Artemis II crew captured more than two-thirds of the Moon, highlighting surface details on the nearside, including the 600-mile-wide impact crater, Orientale basin, along the boundary between the near and far sides. They also captured the Grimaldi crater, a dark, round feature northeast of Orientale, known for its dark mare lava floor and heavily worn rim. Credit: NASA