📷 Image Credits: NDTV
In a recent post, NASA, the US space agency, shared a captivating image on its Instagram that has left space enthusiasts in awe. The image, taken by the powerful HiRISE camera aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft, features the larger of Mars’ two moons, Phobos, famously known as a ‘space potato’. Phobos, with a diameter of about 17 x 14 x 11 miles, is unique due to its lumpy shape, a result of its weak gravity that prevents it from forming a perfect sphere like Earth’s Moon. NASA’s description of the image highlights Phobos’ brownish-red color, lumpy texture, and numerous craters, with a white patch visible next to Stickney crater, one of its prominent features.
The image garnered over 415,000 likes and numerous comments on social media, with users expressing amazement and humor at the ‘space potato’. Some likened it to metal, while others jokingly suggested turning it into space fries. Phobos, devoid of an atmosphere, orbits Mars at a staggering pace of three times a day and presents extreme temperature variations, reaching highs of -4 degrees Celsius and lows of -112 degrees Celsius.
Discovered by American astronomer Asaph Hall in 1877, Phobos is on a collision course with Mars, although it will take nearly 50 million years before the potential impact. NASA’s continuous exploration and documentation of celestial bodies like Phobos provide invaluable insights into the mysteries of our universe, captivating audiences worldwide with its stunning imagery and scientific discoveries.
