NASA’s Perseverance rover recorded a solar eclipse on Mars on August 12, just one day after Earth experienced its own eclipse, according to reports from EL PAÍS and other outlets. The event was caused by Phobos, the larger of Mars’ two moons, passing directly in front of the Sun.
The rover, which is exploring Jezero Crater, captured the transit of Phobos across the solar disk. EL PAÍS notes that while the event is scientifically valuable, it is visually underwhelming compared to a total solar eclipse on Earth. Because Phobos is small and irregularly shaped, it does not fully cover the Sun, producing a partial, lumpy silhouette rather than a dramatic darkening of the sky.
EL PAÍS reports that the August 12 eclipse on Mars was one of several such events that occur regularly on the planet. Phobos orbits Mars closely and quickly, completing a full orbit in about eight hours, which means transits happen frequently. However, capturing them from the surface requires precise timing and positioning of the rover.
The observation adds to a growing catalog of Martian celestial events documented by NASA’s robotic missions. Perseverance has been operating in Jezero Crater since 2021, studying the region’s geology and searching for signs of ancient microbial life. The eclipse footage also helps scientists refine their understanding of Phobos’ orbit, which is slowly decaying over time.
The next opportunity to observe a Phobos transit from the Martian surface will depend on the rover’s location and operational status, but NASA continues to monitor the sky above Jezero for future events.
