Mars Express Phobos minigallery

Between 23 July and 15 September 2008 Mars Express performed a series of eight fly-bys of the martian moon Phobos, at distances ranging between 4500 and 93 km from the centre of the moon, conducting some of the most detailed investigations of the Moon to date. In observing Phobos, Mars Express benefits from its highly elliptical orbit which takes it from a closest Mars approach of 270 km above the surface up to a maximum of 10 000 km distant from the planet's centre, crossing the 9 400 km orbit of the moon. Like our Moon, Phobos always shows the same side to the planet, so it is only by flying outside the orbit that it becomes possible to observe the far side. The other spacecraft presently orbiting Mars do so at much lower altitudes, and therefore only see the planet-facing side of the moon.

To thumbnails

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |

Caption:

First HRSC colour image of Phobos

Credits:

ESA/ DLR/ FU Berlin (G. Neukum)

ID number:

SEMFHVSG7MF

Related Images:

Solar System

Mars Express

Description

This image, obtained by ESA’s Mars Express on 30 August 2008 (orbit 5984), is the first HRSC colour image of Phobos. It was taken at a distance of 2366 km from the moon’s centre, and it is the composite result of the nadir, green and blue channels. The resolution is 95 m/pixel.

The colour of the moon is very uniform, however it is possible to notice some subtle chromatic variations.

To thumbnails

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |