NASA's Perseverance Rover Observes Googly Eye Eclipse on Mars 1g5g2f Technology News

NASA’s Perseverance rover captures a unique "googly eye" effect as Phobos eclipses the Sun on Mars. 5x101v

Written by Gadgets 360 Staff | Updated: 1 November 2024 22:37 IST

NASA's Perseverance Rover Observes Googly Eye Eclipse on Mars

Photo Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS 316sm

Perseverance captures 'googly eye' effect as Phobos obscures the Sun.

Highlights

Perseverance records Phobos eclipse, creating a googly eye effect.
Mars’ moon Phobos partially blocks the Sun during this rare transit.
The rover’s capture enhances understanding of Martian moons.

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Perseverance rover which is positioned in the Jezero Crater on Mars, recently observed a remarkable celestial event as the moon Phobos drifted across the Sun. Captured on September 30, this moment offered a rare glimpse into Mars' sky, where the unique "googly eye" effect of the eclipse unfolded for the rover's Mastcam-Z camera. The video, released by NASA, illustrates the interplay of Martian moon orbits and provides valuable information on Phobos' trajectory and its gradual shift towards Mars.

Unexpected Eclipse Creates 'Googly Eye' View on Mars 69553e

Perseverance, which has been observingPhobos, the larger of Mars' two moons, created a distinct “googly eye” visual effect as it partially blocked sunlight, a phenomenon not typically visible from Earth. The eclipse, captured on the mission's 1,285th sol (Martian day), highlights Phobos' swift orbit, which takes just 7.6 hours to complete a full circle around Mars. Due to its close orbit, Phobos regularly crosses Mars' sky, allowing for these brief transits which last only about 30 seconds each.

Phobos' Eerie Path and Future on Mars 2f58r

Phobos, named by astronomer Asaph Hall in 1877 after the Greek deity associated with fear, measures about 27 kilometres at its widest. Unlike Earth's larger moon, Phobos appears far smaller in the Martian sky. Its orbit brings it closer to Mars with time, which scientists predict will eventually cause Phobos to collide with the Martian surface within the next 50 million years. Past eclipses of Phobos, also recorded by other Mars rovers like Curiosity and Opportunity, continue to contribute essential data for understanding Mars' moons and their shifting orbits.

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Perseverance's Mission and Future Mars Exploration 2n4q1a

As part of NASA's Mars 2020 mission, Perseverance focuses on exploring Martian geology and astrobiology. The mission, managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), is the first to collect samples of Mars' surface material, which are intended to be retrieved in future t missions with the European Space Agency (ESA). Perseverance's Mastcam-Z, developed with from Arizona State University, Malin Space Science Systems, and the Niels Bohr Institute, plays a crucial role in gathering high-resolution imagery to geological studies. This mission aligns with NASA's broader objective of preparing for human exploration on Mars, beginning with the Artemis missions to the Moon.

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