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Credit & Copyright: Johannes Schedler
(Panther Observatory)
Explanation:
This year's record
close approach of Mars
inspired many
to enjoy telescopic views of the red planet.
But while Mars was so bright it was hard to miss,
spotting Mars' two diminutive moons
was still a good test for
observers with modest sized instruments.
Mars' moons were
discovered in August
of 1877 by Asaph Hall at the US Naval
Observatory using the large 26-inch
Alvan Clark refractor.
Recorded on this August 22nd, innermost
moon Phobos and outermost
moon Deimos are
seen here against the planet's glare in a digital composite image.
The picture consists of
of a long exposure capturing the faint, city-sized moons
and overexposing the planetary disk,
combined with a well exposed image of the
red planet, revealing dark markings on the
surface and the white south polar cap.
The images were
taken by astronomer Johannes Schedler
using an 11-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope at his observatory
in southeastern Austria.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Mars - Phobos - deimos
Publications with words: Mars - Phobos - deimos
See also:
- APOD: 2026 July 29 Á Psyche Receives Gravity Assist from Mars
- APOD: 2026 July 28 Á Barnards Loop over Twin Volcanoes
- APOD: 2026 July 21 Á Turtle Rock on Mars
- APOD: 2026 June 27 Á Mars Marathon by Perseverance
- APOD: 2026 February 22 Á Shadow of a Martian Robot
- APOD: 2026 February 1 Á Galle: Happy Face Crater on Mars
- APOD: 2026 January 25 Á Phobos: Doomed Moon of Mars