'Like a Hole in the Universe': Artemis 2 Astronaut Victor Glover Reflects on Seeing a Total Solar Eclipse While Flying by the Moon

On April 6, 2026, four Artemis 2 astronauts witnessed a total solar eclipse from the vicinity of the moon, observing it for nearly 54 minutes from approximately 5,400 miles away. The event was an extraordinary coincidence—mission delays shifted the launch to April 1, placing the spacecraft in the exact position for the moon to block the sun during lunar flyby. Researchers say the observations provide unique scientific value for understanding the sun's mysteries.