For the past month or so, the Kaguya spacecraft, also known as Selene, has been orbiting the Moon at an altitude of 62 miles. In an attempt to replicate the famous "Earth-rise" image photographed by Apollo 11 astronauts from their command module, the Japanese craft has done it one better and returned a high-definition version. The image shows our our planet drifting in the darkness with the Moon's surface spread out in the foreground. There is a second image called "Earth-set" as well as an image series showing the Earth setting behind the Moon's horizon.

Kaguya is run by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Last month, Kaguya returned the first high-def videos of the Earth. The spacecraft's mission is to obtain scientific data on the origin and evolution of the moon and to develop technology for future lunar exploration.

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