NASA's Perseverance captures Phobos transit over Mars

On August 12, 2026, NASA's Perseverance rover captured a transit of Phobos, Mars' larger moon, across the Sun, using its Mastcam-Z camera. The event occurred just one day after a total solar eclipse visible from Earth, highlighting the contrasting celestial mechanics of the two planets. The transit was recorded on sol 1,948 of the mission, from Jezero Crater, and the imagery was color-tinted to simulate human vision with protective eclipse glasses Source: infobae.

Why it matters

Phobos is on a slow spiral toward Mars, approaching at a rate of 1.8 meters per century Source: infobae. Repeated observations of its transits allow scientists to refine their understanding of its orbit and its eventual fate. Unlike Earth's Moon, which drifts away, Phobos is expected to either crash into Mars or break apart, potentially forming a ring similar to Saturn's Source: elpaises.

The event

While some outlets report the transit occurred on August 12 Source: infobae, others state it was observed on August 13 Source: elconfidencial. This discrepancy may stem from time zone differences or mission sol timing. The transit was partial, as Phobos' irregular, potato-like shape could not fully cover the Sun Source: elpaises. This was not the first such observation; Perseverance has documented several Phobos transits since landing in February 2021 Source: infobae.

What's next

Scientists will continue to monitor Phobos' orbit through future transits, improving predictions of its long-term trajectory. The data also contribute to broader understanding of Martian moons and planetary evolution Source: elpaises.