Perseverance Rover Sees Phobos Block the Sun During Martian Solar Eclipse 593f6q Technology News

NASA's Perseverance rover photographed Phobos during a solar eclipse on Mars, showcasing the moon's unique shape. 2l1j30

Written by Gadgets 360 Staff | Updated: 27 October 2024 21:34 IST

Perseverance Rover Sees Phobos Block the Sun During Martian Solar Eclipse

Photo Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU 6x123b

Perseverance captured Phobos during a Mars solar eclipse on Sept. 30, 2024

Highlights

Perseverance captures solar eclipse with Phobos on Mars
The rover uses its Left Mastcam-Z to photograph the event
Phobos orbits Mars closer than our Moon orbits Earth

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On 30 September 2024, Mars' small, irregularly shaped moon, as it ed in front of the Sun in a partial eclipse. This event, observed on what scientists refer to as Sol 1285 of the mission, showcased the shadowy outline of Phobos—a potato-shaped rock—highlighted against the Sun's bright disk.

A Unique View of Mars' Potato-Shaped Moon 1x4g4q

Unlike Moon is nearly 239,000 miles away, making Phobos seem incredibly close to Mars. Its proximity and rapid orbit allow it to circle Mars thrice daily, creating frequent but brief eclipse opportunities for Martian observers.

Tracing the Origins of Phobos 357028

The origin of Phobos remains a mystery in planetary science. While its appearance hints at an asteroid, many researchers believe Mars' gravity didn't capture Phobos but rather may have formed alongside the planet or in the aftermath of a colossal impact event. The nearly perfect orbit that Phobos maintains around Mars is one of the main reasons scientists have leaned away from the asteroid capture theory, as captured bodies often exhibit irregular orbits.

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Perseverance's Continued Observation of Martian Eclipses j156k

This isn't the first time Perseverance has observed Phobos' transit. The rover has previously photographed similar eclipses in April 2022 and February 2024. Other Mars rovers, such as NASA's Spirit and Opportunity, captured images of Phobos eclipses in 2004, and Curiosity recorded this event in 2019.

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