Solar eclipse seen from the surface of Mars

[roubaixtuesday]

So cool it deserves its own thread.

Taken by Perseverance rover - there's a video at the link.

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-perseverance-captures-googly-eye-during-solar-eclipse/

 

[fossyant]

You did well with your Samsung Galaxy's zoom !

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Cool!

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Amazing technology not to mention the accurate prediction of the event so as to capture it. Glad the weather played nice too.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Glad the weather played nice too.

TBF I don't think you get many clouds on Mars

 

[Dogtrousers]

TBF I don't think you get many clouds on Mars

Dust storms?

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Dust storms?

Fair point. Brian Cox tells me they're a thing (have you seen the Planets series on now? Brilliant, though I hate the fact they don't differentiate between CGI and photos)

 

[Dogtrousers]

Fair point. Brian Cox tells me they're a thing (have you seen the Planets series on now? Brilliant, though I hate the fact they don't differentiate between CGI and photos)

Yes. Great series. It's a shame that Brian Cox gets on my wick a bit. I can't say why because I enjoy his programs. I just wish they were presented by someone else.

 

[Drago]

The Americans have Adam Steltzner and we have to put up with that wet drip Brian Cock.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I think Phobos transits most days, with a pretty short orbital period.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

I think Phobos transits most days, with a pretty short orbital period.

Yes - from the link

Because Phobos’ orbit is almost perfectly in line with the Martian equator and relatively close to the planet’s surface, transits of the moon occur on most days of the Martian year. Due to its quick orbit (about 7.6 hours to do a full loop around Mars), a transit of Phobos usually lasts only 30 seconds or so.

same link also states Phobos' orbit is spiralling inwards which is interesting because our moon is doing the opposite, driven by tides.

Is it because there's a small atmospheric drag at Phobos' low orbit, whereas tidal forces are negligible for such a small moon?

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Curiously...

In the same way that the Moon's gravity causes tides on Earth, Phobos's gravity affects the shape of Mars. The gravity from distorted planets acts back on the moons, causing them to spiral inward or outward. Distant moons, like ours, are pushed outward while close-in moons, like Phobos, are pulled inward.

https://janus.astro.umd.edu/front/pages/links/Phobos1.html

 

[Toshiba Boy]

The Americans have Adam Steltzner and we have to put up with that wet drip Brian Cock.

I understand Brian really likes you too 😀