Namely, astronauts have captured the "last" view of Earth before orbiting the Moon, and the photo shows that, unlike previous images, Earth appears increasingly smaller as the astronauts approach the Moon. This view of Earth was captured on April 5, the fourth day of the Artemis II mission, from the Orion spacecraft. The four astronauts will reach their closest approach to the Moon on April 6, according to NASA. Incidentally, the astronauts of the Artemis II mission are set to experience a historic moment today. The four astronauts on NASA’s Artemis II mission are preparing for a historic flyby of the Moon on Monday, which will send humans farther from Earth than any crew in history. Mission controllers say Orion will enter the Moon’s sphere of gravitational influence on Monday, initiating a carefully orchestrated series of events that highlight the complex gravitational dance between Earth and its natural satellite. According to Artemis II Entry Flight Director Rick Henfling, the spacecraft’s trajectory is designed to intercept the Moon before gravity takes control. NASA officials say this process illustrates the delicate balance between two massive gravitational forces guiding the spacecraft’s path. Mission control sent the astronauts a final list of scientific objectives on Sunday morning. The crew will photograph and observe 30 features on the lunar surface during the flyby. The Artemis II crew is expected to surpass the distance record set by the Apollo 13 astronauts during the flyby.