Page 8 - BBC Sky at Night - September 2017 UK

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NASA/ESA AND Z. LEVAY (STSCI), NASA/JPL-CALTECH/CORNELL/ARIZONA STATE UNIV, ESO, NASA/JPL-CALTECH/SPACE SCIENCE INSTITUTE

S Phobos photobomb T Perseverance is key

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE, 20 JULY 2017 MARS EXPLORATION ROVER OPPORTUNITY, 7-19 JUNE 2017
Astronomers were capturing images of Mars when they happened to This incredible view of the Martian landscape is a panorama
spot the moon Phobos appearing from behind the Red Planet. Thirteen above Perseverance Valley in the Endeavour Crater, captured by
images taken over 22 minutes reveal the moon’s motion as it orbits the Opportunity rover. To the far right you can see tracks left by
Mars, which it does every seven hours and 39 minutes. Phobos is the rover in the spring of this year. The rover is currently investigating
edging closer to Mars with each orbit, and it is predicted that in the area to provide clues as to whether the valley was carved out
30-50 million years it may eventually crash into the planet. by liquid water in the past.

skyatnightmagazine.com 2017