Apollo v Artemis: How Earth Changed in 58 Years
Wednesday, 2026/04/22153 words2 minutes968 reads
In 1968, the Apollo 8 crew captured the iconic Earthrise photograph while orbiting the Moon. Commander Frank Borman described the lunar surface as desolate and colorless. When Earth appeared above the horizon, it was a striking contrast—the only colorful object in the entire universe visible from their spacecraft.
Fifty-eight years later, the Artemis II crew recreated this moment with their Earthset photo during a flyby of the Moon in April 2026. While both images show our beautiful blue planet, scientists can detect significant changes between them.
Climate change has transformed Earth's surface. Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have risen by about a third, and global temperatures have increased by at least 1C. The Antarctic Peninsula, visible in both photos, has experienced dramatic ice shelf collapses. Despite these challenges, the original Earthrise image inspired the environmental movement and the creation of Earth Day in 1970, reminding us of our responsibility to protect our fragile home.
