NASA's Perseverance Rover Sees Solar Eclipse on Mars

NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover used its Mastcam-Z camera system to shoot video of Phobos, one of Mars’ two moons, eclipsing the Sun. It’s the most zoomed-in, highest frame-rate observation of a Phobos solar eclipse ever taken from the Martian surface.

Several Mars rovers have observed Phobos crossing in front of the Sun over the past 18 years. Spirit and Opportunity made the first observations back in 2004; Curiosity in 2019 was the first to record video of the event. Each time these eclipses are observed, they allow scientists to measure subtle shifts in Phobos’ orbit over time. The moon’s tidal forces pull on the deep interior of the Red Planet, as well as its crust and mantle; studying how much Phobos shifts over time reveals something about how resistant the crust and mantle are, and thus what kinds of materials they’re made of.

The Mars 2020 Perseverance mission is part of NASA’s Moon to Mars exploration approach, which includes Artemis missions to the Moon that will help prepare for human exploration of the Red Planet.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS/SSI

[mralekito]

That is something else. So interesting to see it. We are so used to seeing circles in space, the odd potato shape of Phobos is eye catching

[NovelIdeaIndeed]

Makes me realize how fortunate we earthlings are with our perfectly situated, round moon and the incredible sight of the sun’s corona made possible by a total eclipse!

[The_Frozen_]

Question: Since Phobos and Deimos are not large enough to block out the sun to where you see the Corona, wouldn't it be more of a "Transit" than an eclipse?

[johnnysparkleface]

All of the tiny Martians came out of their hiding places and bowed down, but the camera was looking at the eclipse. Oh well, maybe next time.

Seriously, this is super super cool!

[tksambrano]

Fascinating clip! Gives you an appreciation for the unique circumstances here on Earth that make solar eclipses on our planet quite a bit more spectacular.

[midnitepostman]

Amazing to think our placement in the universe is so unique. Distance from the sun, size and shape of moon, that our eclipses are so spectacular. This is humbling

[alexjbennett]

That's a sight I never imagined seeing. Mind-blowing... "To see a World in a Grain of Sand, And a Heaven in a Wild Flower, Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand, And Eternity in an hour." William Blake, 1803.

[MacBruce]

Pretty amazing footage. 1.5 AU out from the Sun, and the sunspots are crystal-clear. Kudos, team Perseverance!

[PrabhatKaushik]

I’m guessing it also captured sunspots. That’s crazy awesome!

[pranitallimatti]

Awesome. Really its amazing to see that Persevarance can see the martian solar eclipse

[captdoug]

Man that sun spot group is pretty big. I wonder if that's the one that's been spitting out the flares.

[Flyboy]

I think this might actually be the most interesting thing I've ever seen in my life.

[antonnym]

Amazing video. So proud of the optics on the Perseverance! Minor note, because the sun isn't mostly obscured, this would be more in the category of a transition than an actual eclipse. Neither of the Martian moons is close enough or big enough to do justice to an eclipse as we have here on Earth. All good wishes, and thank you for excellent coverage!

[jonglewongle]

Silly little Phobos would not otherwise rate even a tiny speck against the the size of the Sun, but Phobos being that much closer to where that camera is situated and the Sun that much farther way is what makes such a visualisation viable.

[XMIRC]

Everyone should get a copy of Asimovs "The Tragedy of the Moon": The title of the book comes from the first essays which describe Asimov's speculations on what would have been the effect on scientific and cultural advancement had the Earth lacked a moon. Of particular interest was his quite plausible speculations on how science would have advanced much more quickly if Venus had a moon the size of our Moon..

[makavelirizla]

Im just gona say it.. this was better than the sun moon ecilpse! 👍😃

[lamola]

The fact that Phobos' shape is so recognizable is kinda scary seeing how we're used to a circle

[WPIE]

Goosebumps. Fascinating video, especially when you consider that Mars is even farther out there and the sun can still be seen that big.

[JoelDeplanque]

Belle prouesse technique. 💪Accessoirement, preuve que tout ce qui tourne n'est pas forcément "rond"... 😀

[ridethelightning]

Beautiful, Like a giant eye searching for something deep in space.