How Does Solar Eclipse On Mars Look Like? Check Out This Perseverance Rover Video By NASA
One of Mars's moons, Phobos, was recently captured during a solar eclipse by NASA's Perseverance rover. Here's the video.
We have often been fascinated by celestial objects and have wondered what would life be like on other planets. But we have to contend with what's in the reach of our eyes. Events such as solar eclipses, Blood Moon, meteor showers, and comet passes leave us in awe. But have you ever wondered what would such events be like on other planets? National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) recently released a video showing a glimpse of a 'googly eye' solar eclipse on Mars.
Mars is the fourth planet in our solar system and has two moons — Phobos and Deimos. The NASA video shows Phobos passing between Mars and the sun. The video was captured by NASA's Perseverance rover.
Ever feel like someone's watching you?
— NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) October 30, 2024
That's how I felt when I observed this transit of the Martian moon Phobos! The pupil in this "googly eye" is the potato-shaped moon, and the iris is our Sun. Learn more: https://t.co/jUYoXY1jpK pic.twitter.com/7izVWOHEPH
The remarkable shot was captured by the rover from its position on the western edge of Mars's Jezero Crater. It appeared as if a "googly eye" was gazing down from the sky. The "pupil" in this unusual view was the Martian moon Phobos, while the Sun was the "iris".
Using its Mastcam-Z on September 30, or the 1,285th Martian day of its mission, Perseverance clicked the image as Phobos, a small moon with a potato-like shape, passed between the Sun and Mars, partially blocking the sun's light. As Phobos appeared as a dark circle moving quickly across the Sun's face, its shadow, or antumbra, raced across the Martian surface.
Named by astronomer Asaph Hall in 1877, Phobos gets its name from the Greek god of fear and panic, which is also the root of the word "phobia". Phobos's mythological twin, Deimos, inspired the name of Mars' second moon. Although Phobos spans only about 17 miles (27 kilometres) across at its widest, making it around 157 times smaller than Earth's Moon, its transits are still noticeable as it orbits close to Mars.
This also means that Phobos orbits Mars very fast in nearly 7.5 hours and such eclipses typically last about 30 seconds.
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