An Astronomical Article Analysis

Under the “Science” tab on the New York Times home page lie many articles surrounding the latest buzz regarding NASA and the accomplishments of Artemis II. One piece, uploaded April 11, 2026, is titled “Another Giant Leap Reminds Us How Small We Are.” This article was written by Ruth Graham, a national reporter for the New York Times; it takes a unique approach to the subject compared to other articles. While the piece still discusses significant scientific information, it is primarily framed around the astronauts and the philosophical experience of being a human in space.

The main argument of the article is that, although Artemis II is an incredible scientific achievement, what had an even bigger impact was the way society's perspective on Earth has shifted. More specifically, how seeing Earth from the outside looking in forces a realization of just how small we are.

The article presents information in a wide variety of ways. It includes an interview from an astronaut in space on the Artemis mission, Christina Koch, as well as insight from professors and former astronauts. The article also uses historical and religious comparisons to emphasize the cultural significance of both space and the Artemis II mission. First, the Artemis II mission is compared to other historical NASA space missions, such as Apollo 11. Another interesting aspect of this article is how it dives deep into how, since the dawn of mankind, stars have been one all humans experienced on a global scale. Stars influenced cultures, religions, and entire societies. Isaac Newton used the stars. The Egyptians used the stars. In fact, we are arguably the generation least connected to the stars, due to elements like light pollution, screens, and other devices.

In order to further its argument, the article effectively utilizes a wide variety of writing techniques. First, the article has a very clear and engrossing structure. Much of what is included in the article, although slightly more philosophical than the average science-based piece, utilizes elements also seen in the article “A Beginner’s Guide: How to Write About Science for Non-Experts” by Gabriel Silva; such as storytelling and relating to your audience.

The article also uses rhetorical tactics to further its argument. For example, pathos, also known as the emotional appeal, can be identified in the author’s constant references to humanity and faith; ethos, or the appeal to credibility, can be seen in the author’s choice of sources: a former astronaut, two university professors, and more. The article also opens with an exclusive interview with an astronaut actually on the Artemis II mission, providing the most direct primary source available.

Finally, the design of the article further draws the audience in. When you first open the article, a breathtaking image of a “crescent Earth” completely fills the screen. The sections of the article are each separated by other full-screen images. The layout of this article is reminiscent of the layout of another article discussed in class: “‘We Are the Last of the Forgotten:’ Inside the Memphis Community Battling Elon Musk’s xAI’” by Andrew Chow. While the subject matter of that article is slightly darker, the major similarity lies in how both use large, statement images to engage their audience and increase the article’s impact.

While analyzing all of the elements identifiable in the article, it’s important to keep in mind the audience. Most New York Times readers are likely going to be relatively educated, but not enough to understand extreme space and NASA jargon. Therefore, it was essential for the author to utilize these tactics in order to effectively communicate her point.

Overall, the main purpose of the article was to help those of us down on Earth gain a greater understanding of what Artemis II truly means for us as humans. Outside of mere numbers and statistics, how has mankind been influenced by space exploration, and how will it continue to be influenced as we discover more about what lies beyond our atmosphere? The article presents its argument extremely well through its use of writing structure, emotional appeal, primary sources, and impressive imagery.