NASA’s (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) advanced exploration vehicle, the Perseverance Rover, recently caught the mesmerizing sight of a solar eclipse on Mars. The event featured Phobos, one of Mars’ two moons which is slowly inching towards Mars, in line for an inevitable collision millions of years in the future. These celestial observations offer valuable insights to scientists seeking to comprehend the moon’s orbit and its gravitational effects on the Martian surface. The accrued knowledge helps in understanding the formation and evolution of the Red Planet’s crust and mantle.
Understanding Solar Eclipses
A solar eclipse is a remarkable occurrence that takes place when the moon obstructs sunlight reaching us. The earth is consequently blanketed in the shadow of the moon, which has two parts – the central region known as the umbra, and an outer region termed the penumbra. Depending on which part of this shadow falls on Earth, we could witness one of three types of solar eclipses:
Total Solar Eclipse: This happens when the moon completely blocks out the sun’s central portion.
Partial Solar Eclipse: Here, only a section of the sun’s surface is obscured by the moon.
Annular Solar Eclipse: In this case, the sun is covered in such a way that only a thin ring-like border of its light remains visible. This ‘ring of fire’ becomes visible when the moon, at its farthest position from Earth, fails to completely block the sun.
About Perseverance Rover
Perseverance rover, a key element of NASA’s Mars 2020 mission, is the most sophisticated mobile laboratory designed for Mars exploration. Unlike previous missions, the rover can drill and collect core samples of promising rocks and soils and set them aside on the Martian surface. The rover, powered by a Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG), was launched on 30th July 2020 and landed on Mars on 18th February 2021. Primarily, Perseverance’s mission is to look for signs of ancient microbial life and study the Martian regolith, rocks, and dust.
Planet Mars: An Overview
Mars, the second-smallest planet in the Solar System, is the fourth planet from the Sun, about half the size of Earth. Its rotation and orbital characteristics are similar to Earth, completing one rotation every 24.6 hours and having an axis of rotation tilted 25 degrees relative to its orbital plane. Mars has two moons, Phobos and Deimos, believed to be captured asteroids. The Martian surface has a distinct reddish color due to oxidation or rusting of iron present in the rocks and dust, earning it the moniker, the Red Planet.
Mars Missions Beyond NASA
Several other space agencies have undertaken Mars missions. For instance, the European Space Agency and Russian space agency’s joint mission ExoMars rover, scheduled for September 2022, has been postponed due to geopolitical reasons. China’s first Mars mission, Tianwen-1, aims to find potential water reservoirs below the Martian surface that could harbor life. The UAE’s Hope Mars Mission, its first-ever interplanetary endeavor, aims to construct a comprehensive understanding of Mars’ climate. India’s Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) or Mangalyaan has been studying the planet since September 2014. Finally, the twin Soviet missions Mars 2 and Mars 3, launched in 1971, unluckily arrived at Mars amidst one of the biggest recorded dust storms, hampering their intended exploration.