NASA has released the first photographs taken by the Artemis II mission astronauts during their flyby of the Moon. The first image shows an "Earthrise," with our planet appearing above the lunar horizon, creating a stark contrast against the Moon's rugged, crater-filled surface. The second photograph captures a spectacular solar eclipse observed by the astronauts as the Moon blocked the Sun. NASA has not disclosed which astronaut took the photos, as the crew is on its return journey to Earth after the lunar flyby. The "Earthrise" view brings to mind the iconic Earthrise photograph taken by Bill Anders aboard the Apollo 8 mission in 1968, during a historic flight that preceded the first human landing on the Moon. The sight of Earth as a fragile blue planet in deep space remains one of the most iconic images ever captured. The astronauts took the photos during a six-day flight, which included a period of radio silence when their capsule was behind the Moon. According to NASA, the "Earthrise" photo was captured through the window of the Orion spacecraft. "The dark part of Earth is experiencing night. On the day side, wavy clouds are visible over the Australia and Oceania region," NASA's description states. One of the highlights for the crew was observing the solar eclipse. In this view, the Sun's corona appears around the edge of the Moon. Unlike on Earth, where eclipses last only a few minutes, the astronauts enjoyed about 54 minutes of totality due to the spacecraft's proximity to the Moon. The planet Venus is also visible as a bright spot in the frame. Astronaut Victor Glover described the experience as "fantastically scientific" and "unreal." "This continues to be unreal. The Sun is hidden behind the Moon, and the corona remains visible, creating a halo around it," he said. Meanwhile, although images of the far side of the Moon have been taken by satellites in recent decades, NASA emphasizes that the astronauts' direct experience remains invaluable. The crew also recorded audio descriptions of their observations, which will be analyzed by scientists to extract new data. Another image shows Earth reappearing on the astronauts' horizon after the spacecraft emerged from the far side of the Moon, offering another breathtaking view of our planet from space.