                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                               2022 December 1

                          Artemis 1: Flight Day 13
                        Image Credit: NASA, Artemis 1

   Explanation: On flight day 13 (November 28) of the Artemis 1 mission
   the Orion spacecraft reached its maximum distance from Earth. In fact,
   over 430,000 kilometers from Earth its distant retrograde orbit also
   put Orion nearly 70,000 kilometers from the Moon. In the same field of
   view in this video frame from flight day 13, planet and large natural
   satellite even appear about the same apparent size from the uncrewed
   spacecraft's perspective. Today (December 1) should see Orion depart
   its distant retrograde orbit. En route to planet Earth it will head
   toward a second powered fly by of the Moon. Splashdown on the home
   world is expected on December 11.

                     Tomorrow's picture: pixels in space
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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                      A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC,
                           NASA Science Activation
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

