--- title: "Epic Artemis Video Shows the Astonishing Size of the Moon" description: "While we're photos won't ever do the Moon's sheer size perfect justice, a new video from the Artemis mission's uncrewed Orion spacecraft might come close." date: "2022-12-08" modified: "2022-12-08" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/epic-artemis-video-size-moon" categories: - "Astronomy" - "Moon" - "Space" tags: - "artemis" - "NASA" - "orion spacecraft" - "the digest" --- # Epic Artemis Video Shows the Astonishing Size of the Moon ![While we're photos won't ever do the Moon's sheer size perfect justice, a new video from the Artemis mission's uncrewed Orion spacecraft might come close.]() *\Image: Mike Petrucci / Futurism\* ## Chunky Moon Look, we all know that the Moon is extremely large, even if it looks tiny from down here on Earth. Trying to truly gauge the size of the Moon is like, say, the average human trying to wrap their minds around what it's like to have [$200 billion](). It's a lot, we know it's a lot, but it's hard to really "get it" from such a remote distance. While mere imagery is unlikely to ever do the Moon's sheer size, a new video from the Artemis mission's uncrewed Orion spacecraft, which has been using its impressive [24 cameras]() to record its historic lunar flyby, might come pretty damn close. Taken just before the Orion craft started its [impressively long]() return engine burn, the video perfectly frames the intrepid craft against the backdrop of our crater-dotted natural satellite — a juxtaposition that highlights the Moon's incredible scale. https://twitter.com/JPMajor/status/1599965075632103425 ## Lunar Glory While it took a good while to actually get the Space Launch System (SLS) [off Earth and into the cosmos](), the rewards have been fruitful, if only to visually inspire. Indeed, it's been a remarkable year in space exploration, with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) presenting a [particularly awe-inspiring peek]() into the furthest reaches of our universe. That said? The Artemis mission's imagery of the Moon has been just as mesmerizing, and it's incredibly cool to see Earth's closest neighbor celebrated in its full glory. But on that note, Orion's uncrewed flyby — and thus the inspiring space photography that's come with it — is sadly coming to an end. The craft is due to land in the Pacific Ocean on December 11, provided that the craft survives a [hectic re-entry](), that is. (Though a followup with a human crew is tentatively scheduled for 2024, [expect delays]().) "When Orion re-enters Earth's atmosphere in just a few days, it will come back hotter and faster than ever before — the ultimate test before we put astronauts on board," NASA chief Bill Nelson said in an agency [blog post](). "Next up, re-entry!" **More on Artemis pics:** *[Amazing Artemis Photo Shows Every Human, Alive or Dead, Plus the Moon]()* ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()