China’s Tianwen 1 Mars orbiter has returned a stunning image of Mars’ moon Phobos to celebrate the second anniversary of the mission’s launch.
Tianwen 1 The image was taken with a high-resolution camera, the same instrument used to photograph the landing area of the mission’s Zhurong rover. At that time, it was Mars The orbiter was 3,200 miles (5,100 km) away from PhobosIt is the largest of the two moons of the red planet
Tianwen 1 needed to change its position – or orientation – for the Phobos image, while also needed to determine an exact moment during their respective orbits around Mars that would provide a relatively close approach and good lighting conditions from sUnited nations.
Related: China’s Mars rover takes amazing selfies over the Red Planet
The image provides a resolution of 160 feet (50 meters) per pixel, with some distinct Phobos features Linear grooves visible on the surface.
The photo, released by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and China Planetary Exploration (PEC) also refers to Öpik Crater. This feature is named for the Estonian astronomer and astrophysicist Ernst Obek, who hypothesized the theory of a cloud of comets and icy bodies beyond Pluto, now known as Öpik-Oort . cloud.
Tianwen 1 Launched On July 23, 2020, and recently completed his basic science objectives, including Mapping the entire surface of Mars. . is back Great set of picturesincluding “selfies” taken by small, disposable spacecraft that were published for this purpose.
The orbiter traveled to Mars with the Zhurong rover, which landed at Utopia Planitia in May 2021. Currently hibernatingAs it is winter in the northern hemisphere of Mars.
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