NASA's Perseverance Rover Captures Mars's Moon Phobos Passing in Front of the Sun

NASA's Perseverance Mars rover has recently captured a striking image of Phobos, one of the Red Planet's two moons, as it passed in front of the sun last month.

The remarkable event observed on February 8, the 1,056th Martian day of the mission, provides scientists with valuable insights into the orbit and dynamics of this enigmatic moon.

According to NASA, by analyzing such transits, researchers can refine their understanding of Phobos' orbit and its eventual fate, which is predicted to lead to a collision with the Martian surface in the distant future.

NASA: Capturing Phobos' Transit Across the Sun

The captured video, recorded using the Mastcam-Z camera onboard the Perseverance rover, offers a real-time view of Phobos' transit across the sun's surface.

NASA explained that this data was instrumental in advancing scientist's knowledge of Phobos' orbital parameters and trajectory, shedding light on its complex relationship with Mars.

Arizona State University led the operations of the Mastcam-Z instrument in collaboration with Malin Space Science Systems and the Niels Bohr Institute of the University of Copenhagen.

These collaborative efforts contribute to the cameras' successful design, testing, and operation, facilitating observations such as the recent capture of Phobos' silhouette.

Perseverance's mission on Mars encompasses various objectives, including astrobiology and the search for signs of ancient microbial life. Additionally, the rover aims to characterize the planet's geology and climate history, paving the way for future human exploration and potential sample return missions.

As part of NASA's broader exploration strategy, the Mars 2020 Perseverance mission aligns with the agency's moon-to-Mars approach, which includes preparing for human exploration of Mars through Artemis missions to the moon.

Digging Deep into Phobos

Phobos is Mars' larger moon. It orbits the planet at a remarkable frequency, completing three orbits per Martian day. The moon's proximity to Mars' surface renders it invisible from some locations of the planet, adding to its mystique and allure.

Despite its relatively small size, Phobos bears the scars of numerous meteorite impacts, including the prominent Stickney Crater, named after Chloe Angeline Stickney Hall, the wife of astronomer Asaph Hall, who discovered both the Mars' moons in 1877.

According to NASA, Stickney Crater, measuring approximately 6 miles in diameter, dominates Phobos' surface and is filled with fine dust and boulders. Phobos appears to be composed of C-type rock, the same as the blackish carbonaceous chondrite asteroids.

Phobos' extreme temperature variations range from pleasant winter days to harsh Antarctic nights. The moon was discovered by Asaph in 1877. Its name was derived from the son of the Greek god of war, Ares, and the brother of Deimos.