Mars Rover Captures Rare Solar Eclipse as Phobos Passes in Front of the Sun
Last week, an extraordinary event took place on Mars as the NASA Perseverance rover captured a rare solar eclipse caused by the moon Phobos passing in front of the sun. Phobos, named after the Greek word for “Fear,” was spotted by the rover from its current location in Jezero Crater.
Engineers from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) shared 68 images of the solar eclipse on the Perseverance raw images repository. The footage was taken using the rover’s left Mastcam-Z camera, which is typically used to capture panoramic views of the Red Planet’s landscape.
Phobos, an asteroid-sized moon, was first discovered by American astronomer Asaph Hall in 1877. It orbits a few thousand miles above the Martian surface and is gradually falling towards the planet. Scientists believe that Phobos will eventually disintegrate due to the gravitational forces exerted by Mars.
The formation history of Phobos and its companion moon, Deimos, remains enigmatic. Researchers are uncertain whether they originated from the asteroid belt, resulted from collisions, or are remnants of the early solar system. Despite several flybys, no spacecraft has been able to visit Phobos yet. However, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has plans to send the Martian Moons Exploration (MMX) mission to Phobos in 2026.
The primary objective of the MMX mission is to collect samples from Phobos and return them to Earth. By analyzing the dust particles, scientists hope to gain insights into the moon’s formation history and its relationship with Mars’ atmosphere. The dust may contain molecules of gas that have escaped into space, providing valuable information about Mars’ atmospheric evolution over time.
Understanding the mysteries surrounding Phobos and Mars has significant implications for the planet’s habitability and the presence of water. The loss of Mars’ atmosphere over the ages has raised questions about the planet’s ability to sustain liquid water, as running water requires a certain level of atmospheric pressure. The Perseverance rover, with its mission to search for signs of ancient water and habitable conditions, will contribute to this research.
Similar to the MMX mission, Perseverance is also a sample return mission. However, the rover will require assistance to complete its task. NASA and the European Space Agency have plans to send a Mars sample return mission to Perseverance’s location in the 2030s to collect samples for further analysis on Earth. Unfortunately, the program faced setbacks recently when JPL had to lay off a significant number of its Mars Sample Return (MSR) employees due to ongoing budgetary challenges.
The MSR project has experienced delays and budget overruns due to its complexity, while NASA is currently operating under a continuing resolution that freezes its spending at 2023 levels until the U.S. budget is resolved by Congress. The uncertainty surrounding funding forced JPL to lay off 8% of its workforce this month, causing concerns about the future progress of the mission.
Despite these challenges, the recent capture of the solar eclipse by the Perseverance rover serves as a reminder of the incredible discoveries and scientific advancements being made on Mars. As researchers continue to unravel the mysteries of Phobos and Mars, we inch closer to understanding the Red Planet’s history and its potential for supporting life.
