Perseverance Captures 9-Image Earth Occultation by Phobos on Sol 1,907
Updated
Updated · Space.com · Aug 6
Perseverance Captures 9-Image Earth Occultation by Phobos on Sol 1,907
3 articles · Updated · Space.com · Aug 6
Summary
Nine Mastcam-Z images taken on July 2 show Earth as a pale dot slipping behind Phobos in a rare occultation seen from Mars.
NASA said the alignment demanded precise timing: Phobos crosses the Martian sky three times a day, but lining it up exactly with Earth required planning and luck.
Phobos is Mars' larger, inner moon; it and Deimos are irregular bodies whose origin remains uncertain, possibly captured asteroids or debris from an ancient impact.
Perseverance has also recorded Phobos crossing the sun in a Martian solar eclipse, adding another unusual skywatching milestone to the rover's mission.