NASA’s Artemis II mission stands as one of the most ambitious and symbolically rich endeavors in modern space exploration. Planned for early 2026, it will be the first crewed mission of the Artemis program—the successor to Apollo—and will send four astronauts around the Moon aboard the Orion spacecraft. As a critical step toward establishing a sustainable human presence on and around the lunar surface, Artemis II represents far more than a technical milestone. Beneath its advanced technology and complex logistics lies a deeper current of meaning: the mission’s name, Artemis, drawn from Greek mythology, connects this twenty-first-century venture to humanity’s ancient fascination with the Moon, the gods, and the stars.

As part of Irish Astronomy Week, audiences are invited to journey from the historic Apollo landings to humanity’s next return to the Moon in a compelling public talk by Paul Evans, one of Ireland’s most respected astronomy communicators and former president of the Irish Astronomical Association.

Often titled “ARTEMIS II: The Latest News”, this engaging presentation explores how NASA’s Artemis programme is building on the legacy of the Apollo programme to return humans to the Moon—and go beyond. Paul will trace the story from the last Apollo astronauts, through decades without crewed lunar missions, to the successful uncrewed test flight of Artemis I and the upcoming Artemis II, which will carry astronauts around the Moon for the first time since 1972.

Blending clear explanations with historical insight and personal reflection, Paul will share how the Apollo era inspired his own lifelong interest in astronomy—an enthusiasm he now passes on to new audiences. This Irish Astronomy Week talk places Artemis II in its wider human story, highlighting why these missions matter and how they continue to inspire curiosity, exploration, and interest in STEM for all ages.

For more information go to https://armagh.space

For more information on the Artemis II mission go to Artemis II – NASA

For more information about joining the Irish Astronomical Association go to https://irishastro.org/