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Astronomy Picture of the Day - Artemis I: Flight Day 13
NASA ^ | 31 Jan, 2026 | Image Credit: NASA, Artemis I

Posted on 01/31/2026 12:14:56 PM PST by MtnClimber

Explanation: On flight day 13 (November 28, 2022) of the Artemis 1 mission, the Orion spacecraft reached its maximum distance from Earth. At over 430,000 kilometers from Earth, its distant retrograde orbit also puts Orion nearly 70,000 kilometers from the Moon. In the same field of view in this video frame from flight day 13, planet and large natural satellite even appear about the same apparent size from the spacecraft's perspective. On flight day 26 (December 11, 2022), the uncrewed spacecraft splashed down on its home world concluding the historic Artemis I mission. The Artemis II mission, carrying 4 astronauts around the moon and back again, will launch no earlier than February 8.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; nasa
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To be added or removed from the Astronomy Picture of the Day ping list please send me a request via "Private Reply" (Mail).

For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.

1 posted on 01/31/2026 12:14:56 PM PST by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 01/31/2026 12:15:18 PM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; A Navy Vet; A_perfect_lady; abb; AFB-XYZ; AFPhys; ...
Pinging the APOD list

πŸͺ 🌟 🌌 πŸ”

3 posted on 01/31/2026 12:16:07 PM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

bttt


4 posted on 01/31/2026 12:37:09 PM PST by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is opinion or satire. Or both.)
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To: MtnClimber

What was the camera mounted to?


5 posted on 01/31/2026 12:38:02 PM PST by Deaf and Discerning
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To: Deaf and Discerning

A selfie stick.


6 posted on 01/31/2026 12:42:26 PM PST by samiam5
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To: Deaf and Discerning
What was the camera mounted to?

It must be attached to an arm extending from the spacecraft.

7 posted on 01/31/2026 12:47:49 PM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: Deaf and Discerning

Perhaps one of the solar panels?


8 posted on 01/31/2026 1:09:18 PM PST by telescope115 (Ad Astra, Ad Deum…)
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To: Deaf and Discerning

The tool bag that the female astronaut let escape during a space walk a while back.


9 posted on 01/31/2026 1:33:34 PM PST by chickenlips (Neuter your politicians)
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To: chickenlips
The tool bag that the female astronaut let escape during a space walk a while back.

That was actually my first guess...

10 posted on 01/31/2026 2:47:33 PM PST by Deaf and Discerning
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To: MtnClimber

My father worked for North American Rockwell when I was a kid. They did the work on the Apollo Lunar Module. Long about 1966 he brought home some unclassified literature about Apollo for me and I took it to school (4th grade I think) for show & tell, and gave a presentation. I remember a lot of the other kids laughing at me and the notion that we were planning to go to the moon. Even my teacher thought it was a silly notion.


11 posted on 01/31/2026 3:25:52 PM PST by P8riot (You will never know Jesus Christ as a reality in your life until you know Him as a necessity.)
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To: MtnClimber

What the heck does VSVN stand for?


12 posted on 01/31/2026 3:43:03 PM PST by 1FreeAmerican
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To: MtnClimber

Mtn Climber, thanks for posting!


13 posted on 01/31/2026 8:33:37 PM PST by Pete from Shawnee Mission ( )
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