NASA’s Perseverance Rover Observes Googly Eye Eclipse on Mars

NASA’s Perseverance rover which is positioned within the Jezero Crater on Mars, lately noticed a outstanding celestial occasion because the moon Phobos drifted throughout the Sun. Captured on September 30, this second supplied a uncommon glimpse into Mars’ sky, the place the distinctive “googly eye” impact of the eclipse unfolded for the rover’s Mastcam-Z digital camera. The video, launched by NASA, illustrates the interaction of Martian moon orbits and gives precious data on Phobos’ trajectory and its gradual shift in the direction of Mars.

Unexpected Eclipse Creates ‘Googly Eye’ View on Mars

Perseverance, which has been observing Mars’ floor and sky since 2021, recorded the silhouette of Phobos shifting quickly throughout the Sun’s face from Mars’ western Jezero Crater. Phobos, the bigger of Mars’ two moons, created a definite “googly eye” visible impact because it partially blocked daylight, a phenomenon not usually seen from Earth. The eclipse, captured on the mission’s 1,285th sol (Martian day), highlights Phobos’ swift orbit, which takes simply 7.6 hours to finish a full circle round Mars. Due to its shut orbit, Phobos recurrently crosses Mars’ sky, permitting for these temporary transits which final solely about 30 seconds every.

Phobos’ Eerie Path and Future on Mars

Phobos, named by astronomer Asaph Hall in 1877 after the Greek deity related to concern, measures about 27 kilometres at its widest. Unlike Earth’s bigger moon, Phobos seems far smaller within the Martian sky. Its orbit brings it nearer to Mars with time, which scientists predict will ultimately trigger Phobos to collide with the Martian floor inside the subsequent 50 million years. Past eclipses of Phobos, additionally recorded by different Mars rovers like Curiosity and Opportunity, proceed to contribute important knowledge for understanding Mars’ moons and their shifting orbits.

Perseverance’s Mission and Future Mars Exploration

As a 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 primary to gather samples of Mars’ floor materials, that are meant to be retrieved in future joint missions with the European Space Agency (ESA). Perseverance’s Mastcam-Z, developed with help from Arizona State University, Malin Space Science Systems, and the Niels Bohr Institute, performs an important function in gathering high-resolution imagery to help geological research. This mission aligns with NASA’s broader goal of making ready for human exploration on Mars, starting with the Artemis missions to the Moon.