What is Solar eclipses on Mars?
[[File:PIA17356-MarsCuriosityRover-EclipseOfSunByPhobos.jpg|thumb|320px|An [[eclipse]] of the Sun by [[Phobos (moon)|Phobos]] as viewed on Mars (August 20, 2013).]] The two moons of [[Mars]]—[[Phobos (moon)|Phobos]] and [[Deimos (moon)|Deimos]]—are much smaller than the [[Moon]], greatly reducing [[solar eclipse]]s on that planet.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4442417/ns/technology_and_science-space/t/see-solar-eclipse-mars/ |title= See a solar eclipse from Mars |publisher= NBC News |last=Boyle |first=Alan |access-date=4 March 2016 |date=9 March 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/releases/2004/81.cfm |title=NASA Rovers Watching Solar Eclipses by Mars Moons |access-date=4 March 2016 |date=8 March 2004 |archive-date=29 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129160631/http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/releases/2004/81.cfm |url-status=dead }}</ref> == Eclipses == === Phobos === [[File:MarsCuriosityRover-PhobosEclipsesSun-20130820.ogv|thumb|left|Real-time eclipse of Phobos over the sun on August 20, 2013).]] Phobos is only 20 by 25 km (12 by 16 mi) and has a rapid orbital motion, so someone on Mars would only see the solar eclipse for no longer than about thirty seconds. Phobos also takes only 7 hours 39 minutes to orbit Mars, while a Martian day is 24 hours 37 minutes long, meaning that Phobos can create two eclipses per Martian day. === Deimos === Deimos is too small, 15 by 10 km (9.3 by 6.2 mi), to cause an eclipse. The best someone on Mars would see would be a small object passing the [[Sun]]. == View from Earth == Both moons are too small to cast a shadow on Mars that can be seen from Earth. However, since the creation of [[Satellite (artificial)|artificial satellites]], the shadow of Phobos on Mars has been seen. == References == {{reflist}} {{Mars}} [[Category:Mars]] [[Category:Solar eclipses]]