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PIA05553: Martian Moon Blocks Sun
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover, Opportunity, shows the transit of Mars' moon Phobos across the Sun. Animation available at the Photojournal.
 Target Name:  Sol (our sun)
 Mission:  Mars Exploration Rover (MER) 
 Spacecraft:  Opportunity
 Instrument:  Panoramic Camera 
 Product Size:  360 x 360 pixels (w x h) 
 Produced By:  Cornell University 

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Original Caption Released with Image:

This animation shows the transit of Mars' moon Phobos across the Sun. It is made up of images taken by the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity on the morning of the 45th martian day, or sol, of its mission. This observation will help refine our knowledge of the orbit and position of Phobos. Other spacecraft may be able to take better images of Phobos using this new information. This event is similar to solar eclipses seen on Earth in which our Moon passes in front of the Sun. The images were taken by the rover's panoramic camera.

Image Credit:
NASA/JPL/Cornell

Image Addition Date:
2004-03-12