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Credit & Copyright: Mars Express,
ESA
Explanation:
What does the Martian moon Phobos look like?
To better visualize
this unusual object,
images from
ESA's
Mars Express orbiter have been combined into a
virtual
rotation movie.
The rotation is actually a digital illusion --
tidally-locked
Phobos always keeps the same
face toward its home planet, as does Earth's moon.
The above video highlights Phobos' chunky shape and an unusually dark surface covered
with craters and grooves.
What lies beneath the surface is a
topic of research
since the moon is not dense enough to be filled with solid rock.
Phobos
is losing about of
centimeter of altitude a year and is expected to break up and
crash onto Mars within the next 50 million years.
To better understand this unusual world,
Mars Express
is on course to make the closest flyby ever on Sunday.
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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: Phobos
Publications with words: Phobos
See also: