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Perseverance rover astronomical observations on Mars

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2026-08-27 15:05 UTC → 2026-09-11 20:47 UTC · added ~~removed~~

NASA’s Perseverance rover has documented rare astronomical events from the Jezero Crater on Mars using its Mastcam-Z camera. On July 2, 2026, the rover captured a seven-image sequence showing Earth as a small, bright dot being occulted by Phobos, one of Mars’ moons. This event represents the first time Earth has been photographed disappearing behind another celestial body from the surface of a different planet. Using its Mastcam-Z instrument, the rover recorded Earth as a single-pixel point of light as it was blocked by the moon at approximately 7 p.m. local solar time. Scientists noted that such observations assist in refining measurements of Phobos’ orbit as it spirals toward Mars. Following this, on August 12, 2026, the rover recorded the silhouette of Phobos as it transited across the Sun. This solar eclipse, captured from the Martian surface, is one of several eclipses observed by Perseverance since its landing in February 2021. Scientists utilize these multiple recordings to gain a deeper understanding of Phobos’ orbit, as observations suggest the moon is gradually approaching Mars and may eventually be destroyed by tidal forces or collide with the planet. Alongside Perseverance, the Curiosity rover continues its mission to determine if Mars was ever habitable to microbial life, contributing further geological and astrobiological insights to the ongoing exploration of the Red Planet.

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