NASA's Perseverance Captures 'Googly Eye' During Solar Eclipse

NASA's Perseverance rover recently captured a unique solar eclipse event on Mars, where the Martian moon Phobos passed in front of the Sun, creating a silhouette that resembled a "googly eye." This event occurred on September 30, 2024, during the 1,285th Martian day of the rover's mission. The video recorded by Perseverance's Mastcam-Z shows the rapid transit of Phobos, which is significantly smaller than Earth's Moon, measuring about 17 miles at its widest point. Phobos orbits Mars quickly, completing a full loop in approximately 7.6 hours, resulting in transits that last around 30 seconds. This is not the first time a NASA rover has observed such an event; previous rovers like Curiosity and Opportunity have also captured Phobos transits. The ongoing observations help scientists refine their understanding of Phobos' orbit, which is gradually bringing it closer to Mars, with a predicted collision in about 50 million years. Perseverance's mission focuses on astrobiology, geology, and paving the way for future human exploration of Mars, including the collection of Martian samples for return to Earth.

- Perseverance captured a solar eclipse caused by the Martian moon Phobos.

- The event occurred on September 30, 2024, during the rover's 1,285th day on Mars.

- Phobos is significantly smaller than Earth's Moon and orbits Mars every 7.6 hours.

- Observations of Phobos help scientists understand its changing orbit and future collision with Mars.

- Perseverance's mission includes searching for signs of ancient life and preparing for human exploration.