Today's Image

Don’t miss this photo of Phobos

Posted by

and

July 25, 2013

The larger of Mars' two moons, Phobos, orbiting in front of Mars. Image via Mars Express / ESA / DLR / FU Berlin (G. Neukum). — The larger of Mars’ two moons, Phobos, orbiting in front of Mars. Phobos orbits Mars at an altitude of about 5,830 miles (9,377 km), in contrast to our moon’s average distance of 238,857 miles (384,403 km). Image via Mars Express / ESA / DLR / FU Berlin (G. Neukum).

Phobos and Deimos – Fear and Panic – are the two known moons of the red planet Mars. Here is the larger moon, Phobos, which orbits closely above Mars’ surface. ESA’s Mars Express spacecraft acquired this image in 2010.

According to Jason Major, who posted this image in his blog Lights in the Dark, Mars’ surface features appear slightly wavy due to motion of the Mars Express spacecraft’s camera, which gathers data line-by-line rather than as a single full-frame.

Since the Mars Express spacecraft began sending back science data from Mars orbit in early 2004, it has been granted five mission extensions, the latest until 2014. More great images of Phobos from Mars Express here.

A special thank you to Joe Hansen at It’s Okay to be Smart, who linked to this photo from his feed @jtotheizzoe on Twitter last week and helped us find some info. Thanks, Joe!

Posted

July 25, 2013

in

Today's Image

Deborah Byrd

View Articles

About the Author:

Deborah Byrd (asteroid 3505 Byrd) helps edit EarthSky.org and is a frequent host of EarthSky videos. Deborah created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named in her honor in 1990, a Public Service Award from the National Science Board in 2003, and the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society in 2020. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.