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Apollo vs Artemis: How the Earth has changed in 58 years

2026-04-20 22:54:05Histori SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Apollo vs Artemis: How the Earth has changed in 58 years

After the Apollo 8 crew captured the iconic photo of Earth in 1968, Artemis astronauts have recreated the image, revealing changes to our fragile blue planet.

When Apollo 8 commander Frank Borman first saw the far side of the Moon from the window of his spacecraft in 1968, he was amazed by its desolate appearance.

"The lunar surface was horribly damaged by meteorite craters and volcanic debris," he said during a 2018 BBC interview. "It was either grey, or black, or white – there was absolutely no colour on the lunar surface and it was messy beyond belief."

But as the spacecraft completed its fourth lunar orbit, suddenly, a very different picture emerged.

"We looked up and in the background was the Earth 'coming' over the lunar surface, and Bill Anders took the picture that became perhaps one of the most significant photographs that humans have ever taken," Borman said.

"Earth was the only thing in the entire Universe that had color, it was an extraordinary sight, we are very, very lucky to live on this planet."

This photograph of 'Earthrise', as it was called, became one of the most reproduced images of all time. Showing our planet in the context of lunar desert and space, it sparked the environmental movement, leading to the creation of Earth Day in 1970.

58 years later, NASA astronauts have taken another stunning photo of Earth, “Earthset.” During their flyby of the Moon earlier this month, the Artemis II crew captured a new image of our fragile blue planet in the vastness of space. (We don’t know who took the photo this time because the four astronauts have chosen not to attribute the photos to individuals, but to the entire crew.)

In geological terms, just over 50 years is a very short period. However, climate change has significantly affected the Earth's surface over these decades. Experts explain to the BBC the differences between the "Earthrise" and "Earthset" photos, and what they reveal about our planet yesterday and today.

Apollo vs Artemis: How the Earth has changed in 58 years

Despite its impact and legacy, what makes the "Earthrise" photograph even more astonishing is the fact that no one at NASA had predicted it.

When asked at the press conference after the Artemis mission launched about the plans for a new “Earthrise” photo, it was clear that this time NASA would not be caught off guard. “We will do everything we can to make this happen,” said Lori Glaze, director of the agency’s exploration systems development division.

The “Earthset” image was taken from the window of the Orion spacecraft on April 6, during a seven-hour flyby of the moon. According to NASA, it shows the illuminated side of the Earth with white clouds and blue waters over the Oceania region, while the dark areas are at night. At the same time, the image also shows extraordinary details of the lunar surface, with its craters and basins.

Unlike in 1968, today, multiple satellites photograph the Earth every day and monitor the oceans, land and ice in many ways, not just what we see with our eyes. There are also continuous broadcasts from the International Space Station and images taken by robotic ships from great distances. However, the fact that “Earthset” was made by humans makes it special.

According to experts, humans provide a different perspective. Astronauts choose the moment and the way they capture an image, giving it an emotional feel. This reminds us how small and fragile our planet is and that we all live there.

But the importance of these photos is not only related to emotion. Although they were taken about 58 years apart, they help to understand how the Earth has changed. According to researchers, the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by about a third and global temperatures have risen by at least 1°C.

Apollo vs Artemis: How the Earth has changed in 58 years
Earthrise became one of the most reproduced images of all time and fueled the environmental movement.

Human activities have significantly changed the appearance of the planet from space, with cities expanding, forests being cut down and areas like the Aral Sea shrinking significantly. Meanwhile, Antarctica is one of the fastest-warming regions, with thousands of kilometers of ice disappearing in recent decades.

Studies show that such changes have not been seen in the last 10,000 years. Even in other areas of the Earth where there is ice, faster melting and reduced snow cover have been observed. Scientists believe that 90-95% of these changes are related to human activity.

However, even in 1968, despite the Earth looking beautiful from space, the damage from pollution had already begun. In some cities, like Los Angeles, the smog was so thick you couldn't see across the street, while rivers in some areas were even catching fire.

Borman died in 2023, but the legacy of his Apollo 8 mission still lives on, and his words are just as relevant today to a new generation of astronauts.

"I don't think any of us paid attention to the fact that we would go to the Moon and would be more interested in seeing the Earth."

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