NASA Curiosity Rover Captures Photos of a Solar Eclipse on Mars

[n2doc]

DL Cade



We’ve shared some amazing eclipse photos taken from Earth, we’ve even shared some amazing eclipse photos taken of Earth, but today marks the first time we’ve ever had the chance to share eclipse photos taken from the surface of a different planet.

On August 20th, the 369th Martian day of Curiosity’s stay on the Red Planet, the NASA rover pointed its telephoto lens-equipped Mast Camera at the sun to capture something special: an annular solar eclipse on Mars. In all, Curiosity captured some 89 images that show Phobos, the larger of Mars’ two moons, passing in front of the Sun.

In the video, the photos were played at about 2.75 frames per second to match the actual speed of the event on Mars. In 32 seconds you see exactly what Curiosity saw looking up above at the Martian sky.

Unlike our Moon, Mars’ moons are too small to ever totally eclipse the Sun. In fact, according to the folks at NASA, this footage is as close as you could ever get to experiencing a total solar eclipse on Mars:

Because this eclipse occurred near mid-day at Curiosity’s location on Mars, Phobos was nearly overhead, closer to the rover than it would have been earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon. This timing made Phobos’ silhouette larger against the sun — as close to a total eclipse of the sun as is possible from Mars.

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http://petapixel.com/2013/09/07/nasa-curiosity-rover-captures-photos-solar-eclipse-mars/#more-122273

[Jackpine Radical]

1. Kinda like a big eye in the sky.

Makes me think of the NSA for some reason.

[DJ13]

4. Alan Parsons

[dhill926]

2. That was pretty cool....

Thanks...

[arcane1]

3. Quite cool, thanks!!

[yesphan]

5. Excellent !

[Peace Patriot]

6. Totally amazing to see such a video!

If only we spent all of our energy, intelligence, technical skill and pooled money on astounding feats such as this, and on including all of our people in a healthy, egalitarian culture, instead of wasting all our resources on war, war profiteers and 1%-er greed, we would be a great nation.

We are a nation of such stark contradictions, it is difficult to even describe us. But viewing a solar eclipse from Mars vs. dropping bombs on people to make 1%-ers richer is a good emblem of it. WHY, WHY, WHY aren't we using our talent for technology to advance the human race rather than to kill parts of it?

[hunter]

7. That's really an astonishing video when you do all the math...

First we had to build Curiosity, then we had to get it to Mars, then we had to safely land it (!!!), then we had to get it's camera's pointed at the right place at the right time, and then we had to capture the pictures it radioed back.

That's about as close to a miracle as humans ever accomplish...

GO NASA!!!

[cvoogt]

8. something about Phobos

is kinda scary. Can't quite put my finger on it..