Perseverance rover captures breathtaking view of Martian moon Deimos
The extended exposure was necessary to reveal Deimos, a moon so small — 12 kilometers across — that it appears more like a bright star than a planetary satellite when seen from Mars.
Two of the brighter white specks are Regulus and Algieba, stars that are part of the constellation Leo. (Photo: Nasa)
The resulting photograph is hazy, a product of both the low light before dawn and the digital noise introduced by the long exposures.advertisementMany of the white specks scattered across the Martian sky are likely noise or cosmic rays, but two of the brighter points are actually distant stars: Regulus and Algieba, both part of the constellation Leo. The Martian landscape below is dimly illuminated, with features such as Woodstock Crater visible about half a mile from the rover's location as it journeyed toward an area known as Witch Hazel Hill.This image not only highlights Perseverance's technical prowess but also underscores the ongoing mysteries of Mars' tiny moons. Deimos, tidally locked to Mars, completes an orbit every 30 hours and 17 minutes, and its origins — along with those of its sibling Phobos — remain a subject of scientific debate.The Perseverance mission continues to push the boundaries of planetary exploration, offering humanity rare glimpses of the Martian sky and paving the way for future discoveries. Must Watch
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Did Tesla detect ancient alien signals? Some called it proof of life beyond earth. Black Knight mystery decoded
The Black Knight satellite myth claims that a mysterious object—possibly of alien origin—has been orbiting Earth for 13,000 years. This theory combines a mix of unrelated events, including Nikola Tesla's early radio experiments, unexplained radio echoes, and misidentified space debris. The legend gained momentum in 1998 when NASA's STS-88 mission captured photos of a dark object in orbit, which UFO enthusiasts labeled the Black Knight. However, NASA and experts later confirmed it was a lost thermal blanket from the mission. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Origins in Early Radio Experiments Claims of Early Satellites and Government Detection The 1998 STS-88 Incident: Fuel for the Fire Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Why the Myth Persists A Misidentified Thermal Blanket For over a century, the legend of the so-called 'Black Knight satellite' has intrigued conspiracy theorists and sparked widespread speculation. Believed by some to be a 13,000-year-old alien spacecraft orbiting Earth, the story has blended scientific anomalies, historical misunderstandings, and space mission photographs to create a myth that refuses to foundation of the Black Knight myth can be traced back to 1899, when inventor Nikola Tesla detected unusual radio signals while experimenting in Colorado Springs. Some believed he had intercepted alien transmissions, but modern scientists largely attribute these signals to natural causes or Earth-based later, in 1927, Norwegian amateur radio operator Jørgen Hals observed long-delayed radio echoes—a phenomenon still not fully understood but believed to be atmospheric or ionospheric in nature. These unexplained signals were later tied into the growing lore of mysterious objects and alien 1954, retired Air Force major and UFO proponent Donald Keyhoe claimed that the U.S. military had detected two artificial satellites in orbit—years before Sputnik's launch in 1957. However, no solid evidence ever supported these statements. Further confusion came in 1960, when Time magazine reported the U.S. Navy's detection of a 'dark object' in space. Initially thought to be a Soviet satellite, it was soon identified as a piece of the American Discoverer 8 satellite, part of the classified CORONA spy satellite modern surge in interest around the Black Knight satellite followed NASA's STS-88 mission in 1998. As astronauts conducted a spacewalk to assemble parts of the International Space Station, photographs captured a black, oddly shaped object floating near Earth. These images quickly circulated online, labeled by some as visual proof of the legendary alien astronauts on that mission—particularly Jerry Ross—confirmed that the object was a thermal insulation blanket that had accidentally come loose. NASA catalogued it as space object 025570, and it re-entered Earth's atmosphere and disintegrated within days. Former NASA engineer and space historian James Oberg, who worked on the STS-88 trajectory team, has publicly explained that the object was mundane and has nothing to do with alien the logical explanations and repeated debunking, the Black Knight myth continues to thrive. Part of the allure lies in its blend of ancient mystery, space-age intrigue, and modern conspiracy culture. The popularity of UFO narratives, recent attention on unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs), and declassified government documents continue to fuel archaeologist Alice Gorman suggests that some of the fascination is psychological—humans tend to seek patterns and meanings in the unknown. She points out the improbability of a satellite remaining powered and in orbit for 13,000 years without any maintenance, which current human technology cannot scientific terms, the so-called Black Knight satellite is simply debris from a space mission—specifically a lost thermal blanket. These blankets are used to insulate spacecraft from the extreme temperatures of space. During the STS-88 spacewalk, one of these covers drifted away and was later photographed, leading to widespread thousands of pieces of space debris orbit Earth. Agencies track them to avoid collisions with satellites or manned spacecraft. While tools like radar, telescopes, and even experimental cleanup technologies are in development, the problem of debris—often mistaken for something more exotic—remains a Black Knight satellite is not an ancient alien relic but a modern myth stitched together from decades of unrelated events, misunderstood science, and internet-fueled imagination. As intriguing as the story is, scientific evidence consistently points to a more grounded explanation—one that doesn't involve extraterrestrial visitors.
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Shubhanshu Shukla Leads Key Experiment To Decode Muscle Loss In Space
New Delhi: IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has undertaken a key experiment to decode muscle health in space -- crucial for astronauts undertaking long space missions as well as for people with muscle loss on Earth. Shubhanshu Shukla last week scripted history by becoming the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS), aboard the Axiom Space's mission -4 He along with three others from the US, Poland, and Hungary and seven members of the Expedition 73 led the muscle and brain research. "Shukla worked in Kibo's Life Science Glovebox checking muscle stem cell cultures to learn how to maintain muscle health in space," NASA said in a blog post. Studying muscle degradation in microgravity -- a key issue that has long challenged space medicine -- could unlock new therapeutic strategies. "What happens on going to space is that because gravity is absent, the load goes away and hence muscle loss occurs. So, my experiment is looking at whether we can stop or delay this muscle loss by giving some supplement," Mr Shukla said, during an interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the orbital lab. "It has a direct implication on Earth too that these supplements can be used on people who suffer muscle loss due to old age. So, I think it can definitely be used there," the IAF Group Caption added. Axiom Space in its mission statement noted that "the findings can prevent muscle atrophy in astronauts during long space missions". On Earth, it can lead to "treatments for muscle-related diseases and conditions related to aging or prolonged immobility," the private American said. Meanwhile, Mr Shukla filmed a video targeted for young Indian students discussing how the digestion system adapts to space. He also filmed the crew activities for the Astronaut Mental Health study, NASA said. During the 14-day stay at the ISS, the Ax-4 crew will conduct around 60 scientific studies and commercial activities in microgravity representing 31 countries, including the US, India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, UAE, and nations across Europe. India, through ISRO, has contributed seven carefully selected studies to the mission.
India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
10 most powerful space telescopes ever built
10 most powerful space telescopes ever built 01 Jul, 2025 Credit: Nasa Launched in 2021, JWST is the most powerful space telescope ever built. It observes in the infrared, peering deep into the early universe, studying the formation of galaxies, stars, and potentially habitable exoplanets. James Webb Space Telescope Launched in 1990, Hubble transformed astronomy with stunning images in visible, ultraviolet, and near-infrared. It's responsible for major discoveries about the age and expansion of the universe. Hubble Space Telescope Launched in 1999, Chandra studies high-energy regions like black holes, neutron stars, and supernovae by detecting X-rays from deep space. It's essential for understanding cosmic violence and high-energy phenomena. Chandra X-ray Observatory Operated from 2003 to 2020, Spitzer observed the universe in infrared, revealing cool objects like exoplanets, brown dwarfs, and dusty regions. It helped map out early galaxy formation and the structure of the Milky Way. Spitzer Space Telescope Operational from 2009 to 2018, Kepler was designed to find Earth-like planets by detecting transits. It confirmed over 2,600 exoplanets, reshaping our understanding of how common planets are in the galaxy. Kepler Space Telescope Launched in 2018, TESS is surveying the entire sky for exoplanets around nearby bright stars. It continues Kepler's legacy, but focuses on planets closer to Earth and easier to study. TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) Launched by ESA in 2013, Gaia is creating a precise 3D map of over a billion stars. It's revolutionising our understanding of the Milky Way's structure, formation, and evolution. Gaia It will observe large areas of space with Hubble-like resolution. Aimed at studying dark energy, exoplanets, and wide-field surveys of galaxies. Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Focused on dark matter and dark energy, Euclid is mapping billions of galaxies across cosmic time. It uses visible and near-infrared instruments to chart the geometry of the universe. Euclid Space Telescope It replaces Japan's ill-fated Hitomi telescope to study the universe in high-resolution X-rays. It probes galaxy clusters, black holes, and supernovae with unprecedented spectral detail. XRISM
