NASA’s Perseverance rover has captured a stunning solar eclipse from its home in Jezero Crater on Mars.

Captured by its Left Mastcam-Z camera on the rover’s mast, it shows the tiny potato-shaped moon Phobos moving across the Sun.

Phobos is the innermost and larger of Mars’ two moons, the other being Deimos.

Acquired by Perseverance on April 2, 2022 at the local mean solar time of 08:20, the above image was one of 194 taken during the 40 second eclipse. There have been assembled into this incredible video released today by NASA:

It’s the highest frame-rate video of an eclipse of the Sun by Phobos ever seen.

“I knew it was going to be good, but I didn’t expect it to be this amazing,” said Rachel Howson of Malin Space Science Systems in San Diego, one of the Mastcam-Z team members who operates the camera.

The originals are lower-resolution thumbnails, but the video uses full-resolution versions.

“It feels like a birthday or holiday when they arrive,” said Howson. “You know what’s coming, but there is still an element of surprise when you get to see the final product.”

Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.