#artemis-ii

#artemis-ii

Like the moon's shadow sweeping across the globe during a total solar eclipse, astronomy-focused tourism is taking the world by storm. And in 2026, there are plenty of celestial reasons to travel. You've likely already heard of the August 2026 total solar eclipse, which is undoubtedly the year's marquee event, but you can also travel for everything from rocket launches to meteor showers. These are the astronomy events that can turn trips into once-in-a-lifetime experiences-and where to go to see them at their best.

As early as February 2026, NASA will launch the Artemis II mission and send four astronauts on the first lunar flight in over 50 years. But some internet-dwelling conspiracy theorists aren't convinced by the official narrative. As the space agency unveils new details for the mission, lunar conspiracy theories have reignited and spread like wildfire on social media. The focus of many commenters' ire is the fact that it has been over 50 years since NASA launched a mission to the moon.

The Artemis II mission represents a major step forward for NASA and seeks to send four astronauts-Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen-around the Moon and back. The 10-day mission will be the first time astronauts have left low-Earth orbit since the Apollo 17 mission in December 1972. The mission's Space Launch System rocket has been stacked and declared ready for flight. The Orion spacecraft is in the final stages of preparation and will be attached to the top of the rocket later this year.