NASA showed a solar eclipse on Mars through the eyes of the Perseverance rover

The space agency NASA has published video from the Mastcam-Z cameras of the Perseverance rover, which managed to capture Phobos, one of the two moons of Mars, which eclipsed the Sun.

The eclipse itself passes quickly enough, since Phobos is about 150 times smaller than the same Moon. This satellite is similar to a potato with dimensions of 26.8 × 22.4 × 18.4 km.

Scientists note that this is the largest observation of a solar eclipse of Phobos with the highest frame rate ever made from the surface of Mars.

Over the past 18 years, only a few rovers have observed the passage of Phobos in front of the Sun. Spirit and Opportunity made the first sightings in 2004, and Curiosity was the first to record a video of the event in 2019.

Each time, these eclipses allow scientists to assess subtle shifts in Phobos' orbit over time. The tidal forces of the satellite attract the deep bowels of the Red Planet, as well as its crust and mantle. Studying the displacement of Phobos allows you to find out what materials they are made of.