The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has shared an image of ‘Space Potato’ on its official Instagram page. The image is of Phobos, the larger of Mars’ two moons.\n\nNASA’s recent post showcased a stunning image of Phobos, the largest of Mars’ two moons, often referred to as the ‘Space Potato’. Measuring about 17 x 14 x 11 miles in diameter, Phobos’ unique lumpy shape is a result of its small size and weak gravity compared to Earth’s Moon. The post highlighted that Phobos is gradually moving towards Mars at a speed of six feet every 100 years, potentially leading to a collision with the red planet in the distant future. The captivating image captured by the High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter depicted Phobos against the dark expanse of space, showcasing its brownish-red hue and cratered surface. The post on NASA’s Instagram garnered over 4,20,000 likes and elicited various reactions from netizens, including playful comments about space potatoes.\n\nPhobos, discovered by Asaph Hall in 1877, orbits Mars three times a day and lacks its atmosphere. Its sibling moon, Deimos, completes the duo named after the mythological sons of Ares, the Greek god of war. Phobos, meaning fear, is known for its extreme temperature variations reaching as high as -4 degrees Celsius and as low as -112 degrees Celsius. Scientists attribute this to the dust on Phobos’ surface that struggles to retain heat, resulting in rapid heat loss. This intriguing revelation by NASA has sparked curiosity and awe among space enthusiasts, underscoring the beauty and mysteries of our solar system.
