Timelapse of Hera's Mars flyby

On 12 March 2025, ESA’s Hera spacecraft soared just 5000 km above Mars and passed within 300 km of its distant moon, Deimos. Captured by Hera’s 1020x1020 pixel Asteroid Framing Camera, this video sequence offers a rare view of the red planet and its enigmatic moon. The original greyscale images have been colour-enhanced based on known surface features.

Credits: ESA - European Space Agency
Music: In Search Of Solace - Symphony Of The Solitary Mind

[ptonpc]

That is amazing! When I was a kid, this literally was the stuff of science fiction. Congratulations to everyone involved.

[u-ux]

Less than 300km from Deimos on a flyby? That's some amazing navigation!

[douglasstruthers]

Incredible! Thank you for sharing and inspiring.

[timothylili]

Whoever composed the soundtrack to accompany this video sequence... amazing.

[Leopez]

Our red neighbour Mars really is beautiful! 🌍🚀🌌🪐

[gbdc]

Les angles de prises de vues sont impressionnants : l'impression d'être sur une trajectoire de collision avec la planète... ^^'

[bigmisou]

Beautiful photos as each time, thanks 😘

[dubiousName]

Congratulations on such a great flyby 🎉

[dragonluvver]

Fund space programs so we can have more amazing things like this!!

[MrFranklitalien]

gorgeous footage. looks like a nice, quiet neighborhood

[frantisekvtelensky]

What a ride! 🛰️ 🤌 So proud my country is a part of the ESA! 💪🇨🇿

[sesvecan]

It would be helpful to define a standard reference point for sizing. Placing an overlay (of the shape of a city or country, continent) on these frames could give a better sense of scale. Since it is an European mission, why not using an EU map or the biggest EU cities for that?

[ronkirk]

Having grown up at a time when I saw the first lunar landing on TV while in high school, I'm still amazed how far we have come in probing the solar system and observing the universe. I had to Google it, but found out that Hera is primarily a planetary defense mission to gather information about how we might prevent another great extinction via asteroid impact.

[IngoGerth]

Fantastic video! What an amazing team!

[UtkuErkan-xp]

Great ESA, you are wonderful & unique.

[gerdisrael]

Nice footage. Could anyone make a smooth video out of those pictures? That would be amazing!

[eziepiezie]

Damn I forgot about this. Amazing work guys!

[thomaslangley]

It quite clearly. CLEARLY. had oceans. In the distant past. You can see it. The old continental plates and the drop off ... into the oceanic depths.

[rafaelcerrajerogimenez]

Glaciers...over... Mars-Planet... 🎉

[mariadaluzmoutinho]

A equipa HERA ...fez um excelente trabalho e os resultados reais são fascinantes e surreais ...de um planeta fascinante!! Que incrível viagem ao planeta vermelho!!